"Ugh!"
The attack was unexpected. Liam suddenly felt weak all over, dread flooding his body as if he were drowning under a heavy tide.
His knees buckled as he almost fell to the ground, gasping for air, his vision blurring under the immense pressure.
If not for his recent increase in strength, he might have even fainted from the pressure alone. The aura of a Tier 4 Mage wasn't a joke.
"Do you even understand what you've done?!" Duke Edward's voice thundered across the room like a crashing wave.
He appeared quite enraged.
"Edward, can you please calm down your anger? Don't you know he isn't strong enough to withstand your aura?"
Fortunately for Liam, his mother Emma suddenly waved her hand, covering him in a green glow, nullifying the pressure.
"See? He almost fainted. Can't you be a little merciful?"
Then she hurriedly grabbed her son by his head and scolded the duke in anger. Her motherly love flowing like a river for everyone to see.
"Serves him right for not practicing when asked. Who told him to grab another's wife when he is this weak?"
Duke Edward scolded in a cold voice, but still retracted his aura back into his body. His tall, warrior-like frame, crossed arms, and condescending gaze perfectly managed to irk Liam.
'Damn, old man. Wait for me to gain power, and I will show you who is the father.'
Liam cursed inwardly while gathering himself. When he felt that aura just now, he really thought he was in front of the gates of hell.
"Edward, you can't blame him. When someone is in love, they don't look at other things. It is we, as parents need to help our child in need."
However, Mother Emma quickly shielded Liam as she always did. Only her reason for shielding seemed a little odd.
"Mom…"
"Shhh… don't say anything. You seem quite tired. Just rest. Let your mother handle it."
Liam wanted to clarify, but his mother stopped him with a smile.
"But, kid, I didn't know you were this daring? No wonder you asked for Mana Lock Dust from me. So, you wanted to get this girl all along, huh?"
Mother Emma looked at Fiora fidgeting nervously with appreciation. With a glance, she could see her mana vein was locked.
She couldn't help but be proud of her son, as even she didn't know her son was so daring.
"However, don't do it like this next time. If you want someone, just say so. Your parents will give you anything you want. No need to take risks like this."
She assured while placing her hand on her chest, causing both Fiora and Liam to twitch their mouths.
"Mom, that's not what…."
"Enough! You've already spoiled him his whole life, and now you still want to protect him instead of punishing him?"
Before Liam could say anything, he was once again stopped by the cold voice of Duke Edward.
'Oh, come on. Can you two please let me talk?'
Liam was interrupted twice, causing him to feel both irritated and helpless. However, his parents didn't seem to care, as he saw Duke Edward suddenly wave his hand, pulling out a long sword seemingly out of nowhere.
"Here!"
Then, he suddenly threw the sword toward Liam, causing him to grab it reflexively.
"Since your mother insisted, I will give you a chance."
Duke Edward looked at him with his stern gaze and said,
"Like I said, the weak have no rights in this world. If you don't want to be looked down on by your wife, you have to be strong. So, your punishment is to swing this sword a thousand times in proper form, and you cannot rest in between."
"Can you do it? I will let you have her if you can do it. What do you think?"
He asked as if challenging his resolve. From start to finish, he seemed strict.
'So, all that fuss was to try to make me practice?'
Liam almost couldn't help but roll his eyes.
'But swinging a sword a thousand times without a break? Are you kidding me?'
Liam thought, feeling speechless. Likewise, Fiora also felt quite awkward. She wanted to clarify that they had nothing to do with each other, but couldn't, as the person in front was the bona fide Duke even her father had to bow to.
So, she couldn't help but look at Liam for help, hoping that he would stop them in time and tell the truth.
And just when Liam was about to do that, suddenly he heard a crisp sound in his mind, followed by the transparent screen in front,
[Ding!]
[You have been challenged to swing the sword a thousand times by Duke Edward. As a carrier of the Unstoppable System, you cannot be lame.]
[Congratulations! A new Quest has been activated: I Can Do It 10,000 Times.]
[I Can Do It 10,000 Times – Instead of merely swinging a sword 1,000 times, swing it 10,000 times to show Duke Edward that you are truly unstoppable.]
[Condition: Accept the Duke's condition within 1 minute and swing the sword in perfect form from start to finish, with no rest once you begin.]
[Reward: ??]
[Penalty for Failure: Permanent disappearance of the Unstoppable System.]
[Quest Progress: 1/3]
'Are you serious?'
Liam almost shouted out loud after seeing the new quest.
'10,000 times? Do you want me to die?'
He wanted to directly abandon the quest, but seeing the penalty for failure made him stop.
'Why do you always threaten me with disappearance?'
Liam complained. Why was the penalty always the disappearance of the system? It was clearly giving him an ultimatum.
Either complete the quest or say goodbye to your golden finger.
"So? What is your answer? Don't make any excuses. Otherwise, I won't allow you to keep your stolen wife in this home."
Duke Edward asked, raising his voice a little. His face was still as cold as ever, as if he were serious.
"Lord Edward, that's not..."
Seeing that Liam wasn't much help and the misunderstanding wasn't over, Fiora finally mustered up her courage to confess, only to get interrupted by Liam.
"Okay, I accept!"
"What?"