Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Chapter 236

‘What... just happened?’

At times, an absurdly unrealistic reality can cloud one’s judgment and hinder clear reasoning.

That was exactly what happened to the Mad Dragon.

For a brief moment, he couldn’t understand why he was standing outside the dueling arena.

"Remember this, Mad Dragon. You are nothing more than a hound we Ragnar raise. Never forget that you are not a wolf who dares to bare its fangs at us."

It wasn’t until he heard Theo’s voice ringing in his mind that his senses snapped back into focus.

‘Theo Ragnar...!’

The Mad Dragon glared at Theo, his gaze filled with murderous intent, as though he would devour him whole.

But—

“!!!”

His fierce resolve faltered the moment his eyes met Theo’s cold, piercing gaze.

It froze him in place. Words he wanted to speak caught in his throat.

Dominance.

The overwhelming presence he had believed was his alone now smothered the entire arena.

His aura was nowhere to be found.

He couldn’t speak.

"It is entirely up to us whether you ascend to the imperial throne or not."

Theo’s words carried a stark warning.

If you dare deceive me again, I will strip away even the scraps you cling to.

The very reason you’ve been able to dream of a comeback isn’t because of a deal—it’s because of my mercy.

The Mad Dragon hesitated.

Should he cling to his pride and risk everything in a life-or-death clash with Theo here and now?

Or should he lower his head and bide his time for a future opportunity?

If he chose the former, he could vent his frustration and preserve his dignity.

But doing so would sever his ties with the Ragnar clan completely.

Without their support, his entire foundation would collapse, leaving him with nothing but a hollow title. What could he possibly achieve in that state?

And defeating Theo? That was a long shot. If the battle ended in a draw, even his reputation would be ruined.

On the other hand, if he chose the latter...

He would have no choice but to become the Ragnar clan’s obedient lapdog. He’d have to bark when commanded, grovel when ordered.

Even if the clan demanded that servant girl be placed on the throne, he wouldn’t be able to oppose it.

Either way, his options were grim.

‘...I miscalculated.’

Had Theo’s past compliance lulled him into complacency?

Or was it the recent chorus of sycophants around him that had dulled his edge?

The Mad Dragon now realized he had let Theo—a potentially ideal ally—slip through his fingers.

Lowering his head, he acknowledged his mistake.

...He had built too much to throw it all away over something as trivial as pride.

‘It’s over.’

Theo, watching the Mad Dragon bow his head, understood perfectly.

The Mad Dragon should have stood his ground and clashed with Theo, no matter the cost.

Victory or defeat, such defiance would have allowed him to break free from Ragnar’s chains.

It might even have given him the chance to ally with the clan on equal terms.

‘If only he had cast aside everything Ragnar gave him and started anew, relying solely on his strength. If he had rallied allies and begun again... Even Father or the other Nine Dragons might have chosen to look the other way.’

The Mad Dragon had once been a meticulous, far-sighted man.

He possessed the ability to plan for the long term and see the bigger picture.

But as he built his foundation and grew closer to the imperial throne, his perspective narrowed.

People like him always meet one of two fates:

They either self-destruct.

Or they are eliminated.

‘Now I understand why, despite all his skills, he never ascended the throne in my previous life.’

To Theo, the Mad Dragon’s value had diminished to nothing more than a pawn for ensuring Cassandra’s stable rule.

"Everything you’ve built will ultimately serve as a stepping stone for Cassandra’s reign."

“...It seems the Young Patriarch’s strength has far exceeded my expectations. I underestimated you. I offer my apologies.”

The Mad Dragon stood tall, putting on a composed front as he bowed his head.

“T-That’s...!”“Hmm...”“So he’s abandoned all pride as a swordsman, along with his dignity and self-respect.”

That was the philosophy Wolfgang had lived by.

And yet—

Clang!

Theo suddenly tossed a dagger at Wolfgang’s feet.

Wolfgang looked at him with a confused expression.

“No matter what anyone says, it’s a fact that you served as an Elder, holding Ragnar together as a pillar for many years. Sometimes, you were the roof that shielded us from storms. For that, I’m offering you a chance to die with honor.”

“...”

“Of course, I’m not asking you to take your life here and now. That’s not something your stubbornness would allow anyway. That’s why I’m giving you that dagger. Whenever you feel ready, after reflecting on your actions and finding resolve, you may choose to use it.”

Wolfgang’s eyes twitched.

In the end, it was nothing but an order to die.

Whether it was tomorrow or a year from now,

Living each day under the shadow of death would be a living hell.

“And if... I don’t kill myself?”

Wolfgang bit his lower lip hard.

“Then that would be your choice.”

“Then...!”

“But in that case, it won’t be me who comes for you.”

“!!”

“It will be Evelyn.”

“!!!”

“I will bring Evelyn back from this campaign and make her one of the Nine Dragons. She will take the very position that you once held after defeating you.”

“...”

“This is the first and last order I will give you as Elder. Will you meet your end with dignity, or live as a disgrace until your inevitable revenge? That’s for you to decide.”

Wolfgang stared at Theo and the dagger for a long moment.

Then, he picked up the blade and trudged off the stage.

Watching him leave, Theo came to a conclusion.

‘He won’t kill himself.’

For now, Wolfgang might act as though he was reflecting and regretting his past actions.

But deep down, Theo knew the truth.

He would do everything he could to survive until Evelyn arrived.

Perhaps he would try to gauge Evelyn’s strength or recover what he had lost in power.

Or perhaps—

‘He might even align himself with his brother.’

Of all people, Wolfgang was likely the most shaken by the revelation that the Mad Dragon Emperor had returned.

To him, it might seem like a new opportunity.

What would happen from there was anyone’s guess.

But that didn’t matter.

For Theo, it was just another step toward Wolfgang’s ultimate disgrace and downfall.

Theo gathered his thoughts and turned to face the audience.

It was time to announce the completion of the Nine Dragons’ trials.

“Woooaaah!”“I didn’t think he’d pass all of them!”“He’s incredible!”

Ragnar’s swordsmen, the northern citizens, and even spies sent by other factions couldn’t help but marvel at Theo’s overwhelming display of prowess.

But their excitement wasn’t solely about the trials themselves.

What truly set their hearts racing was the anticipation of the final challenge.

"You’ve grown well."

A booming voice echoed as the sky trembled.

Something descended into the arena’s center.

Boom!

A massive sword plunged vertically into the ground, its impact shaking the arena.

Standing atop the hilt with arms crossed was Kyle Ragnar.

His sharp, piercing eyes softened as they focused on Theo.

“Crossing blades with my grown son... is truly something to look forward to.”

“I’ll ensure you won’t be disappointed.”

Theo gripped the Dragon Fang Blade tightly, and Kyle smiled.

“Good. I’ll hold you to that.”

With a sharp crack, Kyle vanished from where he stood.