Lord of the Mysteries: I Married the Queen Mystic

When the "butler" staff member explained the rules earlier, there was actually one unspoken rule he didn't mention... If the disparity in strength between the two fighters was too great, the bell would be rung early...

However, such incidents were rare because the organizers usually matched opponents of similar skill levels.

Today, however, was an exception.

The organizers had arranged for Odis to face a Sequence 9 opponent based on Simon's description of his abilities.

This young man had participated in multiple matches before, excelling in both hand-to-hand combat and melee weaponry. The organizers had intended for him to humble Odis, ensuring the newcomer wouldn't grow too arrogant.

What they didn't expect was that Odis had never gone all out in front of Simon... Thus, the young man stood no chance, forcing the bell to be rung prematurely...

Another round of applause erupted from the stands. Though the match had been brief, the spectators found it thrilling. The masked newcomer's fighting style clearly countered his opponent's aggressive approach.

Odis didn't press the attack. Instead, he took a few steps back and slowly drew his weapon.

The young man's endurance was remarkable, and Odis strongly suspected he was a Beyonder of the 'Warrior' Pathway.

After spitting out a mouthful of blood, the young man caught his breath and unsheathed his own weapon, a gleaming white blade that looked razor-sharp. He steadied his breathing, feeling ready to fight again, but this time, he didn't charge. Instead, he waited cautiously for Odis to make the first move.

Odis glanced at the hilt of the young man's sword and smirked, saying, "Surrender. You've already lost."

The young man snorted but said nothing, his eyes locked onto him.

Finally, Odis made his move.

The young man frowned, because Odis's sword stance was awkward... clumsy even. But he didn't let his guard down. He carefully raised his blade to block.

The moment their weapons clashed, A spark of electricity crackled along Odis's sword!

The young man's entire body jolted, half of him going numb from the shock.

Odis's weapon wasn't just an ordinary sword, it was a mystical weapon that was capable of releasing high-voltage currents on contact.

He had crafted it during his experiments with electricity in this world, though he later deemed it impractical. After all, the sword cost 230 pounds to make, but an enemy could easily defeat him with a 2 pound revolver.

So, it had been gathering dust in his basement... until tonight that is.

In a noble's fighting arena, however, such weapons were perfectly suited.

While most sword hilts were wooden and thus non-conductive, Odis had discovered that long weapons often had metal pins or bands securing the hilt to the blade to prevent detachment. In other words... there was almost always a conductive path.

And tonight's opponent?

His hilt was entirely metal.

The result?

A full-body electrocution...

The young man staggered back, trembling. An ordinary person would've been knocked out cold by now.

"Ref… referee!" the young man stammered, his tongue still numb, "His s-sword… it's c-cheating!"

Odis raised his voice in response, "The rules state that we may carry one melee weapon. They never specified whether or not it could have Extraordinary properties."

"You call this a melee weapon?!" The young man retorted furiously.

Odis replied coolly, "Yes. After all, it doesn't fire bullets."

Finally, the referee overseeing the match declared: "The rules do not prohibit Extraordinary enhancements. The weapon is valid."

Truthfully, the organizers welcomed mystical weapons. They made the fights more entertaining.

Odis repeated, "Surrender."

The young man spat, "A true warrior never surrenders!" He then hurled his sword aside, grabbed a nearby armchair, and charged at Odis like a madman.

Odis sidestepped effortlessly and stabbed his electrified blade into the young man's side. Another high-voltage surge sent him convulsing to the ground.

Odis chuckled, "A real warrior wouldn't be this stubborn."

The referee announced: "The masked fighter wins!"

The applause from the stands was scattered. The nobles and wealthy spectators had hoped for a bloodier, more desperate struggle... not a one-sided domination.

But Odis couldn't care less about their opinions. He sheathed his sword and strode out through the iron gate...

...

Outside, the butler-like attendant approached, saying, "Sir, may we have your name for future match arrangements?"

Odis paused, then grinned, "Lelouch."

"Very well, Mr. Lelouch." The man bowed politely, "Please wait a moment. Your payment will be delivered shortly."

Odis sat back down, noticing a middle-aged man with a thin mustache across from him.

The man carried a two-handed greatsword, one hand resting on its hilt as he meditated in silence. He was likely the next fighter.

A minute later, a servant arrived and handed Odis 260 pounds, all in 10 pound notes. They formed a neat stack that didn't look too thick...

Simon bid the butler farewell, and they boarded the rented carriage to leave.

Once inside, Odis handed Simon three banknotes, "An extra 4 pounds for you. Spend more time here and learn all the rules. Also, dig up information on my opponents."

Simon pocketed the money with a grin, "Of course, leave it to me."

Odis said nothing else...

....

The carriage took him back to Unit 75 Hailin Avenue. At home, he removed his mask, changed into loose clothes, and poured himself a drink to celebrate...

Since his advancement, his potion digestion had been slow, but he has already earned over 500 pounds using his new abilities.

Combined with his previous savings, Bernadette's deposit, and the intelligence fees from the 'Mysticism Research Society', Odis's total funds now approached 3000 pounds.

It's been a long time since he's had this much money. But tomorrow, he'd have plenty of expenses.

After locking the money in his safe, Odis took a bath, lay in bed reviewing the night's battle, then drifted off to sleep.

His consciousness once again appeared in a wilderness of illusory light.

A new week of research had begun... but after his advancement, the 'Knowledge Moor' seemed to have changed somewhat...