"...You stupid fool. My goal is not the problem right now, but you. If things have progressed this far, I can't uphold the contract between us."

"How come?"

"Well, that's because if it goes on like this..." In a deep and agonizing voice, Celestia whispered into my chest, "If it goes on like this, you will become the Emperor of the Empire..."

I completely overpowered three of the only four Dukes that existed in the Empire. Without even fighting or displaying any sort of special ability, I overwhelmed them just by coming face to face with them. This was completely different from winning against them in a fight.

A strong being with a powerful fighting prowess who appeared to beat up the Dukes would be an amazing feat, but that was all. After all, the position of Duke allowed one to possess authority over the military forces. It did not mean that one's own fighting abilities were stellar. The transcendents who ultimately survived became those that seized power, but that didn't mean they could stand above the others. They were simply stronger, that's all. It was similar to how one couldn't possibly take over Korea just by defeating the President of Korea in a mere fist fight.

Nevertheless… As many as three of the Four Dukes acknowledged me. They abandoned the idea of defying me, because they saw me as a strong being who was capable of overpowering them and even the forc...