My SSS-Rank Innate skill: Infinite Adaptation core

In other words, as long as the opponents he defeated were considerably stronger than his current level, he would receive a substantial amount of Experience Points, regardless of how powerful he was compared to others within his own realm.

”Lord Nova? Let’s go.”

Velena called out to Nova, who was still deep in thought on the ground. Hearing her voice, Nova snapped back to reality and stood up.

”Ah... yes. Let’s go. I’m done here.”

Velena nodded before saying, ”Lord Nova, if you want that beast’s body, I can get it for you.”

Nova was surprised by her offer. He couldn’t help but wonder why she was suddenly being so generous. Although he agreed that Velena was a nice person, nobody was usually this kind to someone without a reason.

Nova smiled and shook his head.

”It’s alright. I’ll hunt it myself once I’m strong enough to do so.” Velena didn’t say anything. She simply gave him a small nod.

Then, without warning, Velena suddenly moved closer to Nova. The distance between them shrank in an instant. Her large, soft breasts pressed lightly against his chest.

Nova’s body stiffened at the unexpected closeness. He didn’t know how to react. Velena tiptoed slightly, a handkerchief in her hand, and gently began wiping the demonic beast’s blood from his cheek.

Nova quickly understood her intention, but standing this close still made him tense. Up close, her breathtaking and alluring face was even more striking.

Unlike him and Nyxara, Velena had a pair of small, elegant purple horns that only added to her charm. ”Lord Nova, you have blood on your cheek. Let me clean it,” she said calmly.

She was completely in her maid mode and didn’t realize how easily the situation could be misunderstood if someone saw them right now.

”What’s going on here?”

A loud, familiar voice suddenly rang out from behind them. Nova and Velena both turned around at the same time. Nova felt as if his heart was about to leap out of his chest.

Nyxara stood there with her arms folded under her full chest, a deep frown on her face. It was obvious she did not like what she had just witnessed.

Nova immediately pulled away from Velena. Velena, on the other hand, still didn’t fully understand the problem. Seeing her princess, she simply greeted her as usual.

Nyxara gave a short nod, then turned her cold gaze toward Nova. ”I leave you alone for a few hours, and you’re already laying your filthy hands on my maid?”

”What?! No! You’ve got it wrong! She—she was just cleaning the blood!” Nova quickly tried to explain, panic clear in his voice.

He was certain that if she misunderstood completely, she might actually kill him.

”Don’t try to make excuses. I saw with my own eyes how close you were standing to her,” Nyxara countered sharply.

Nova didn’t know what else to say. He looked toward Velena. Although her face remained mostly calm, there was a slight change in her expression.

She had already understood what her princess was thinking after seeing them in that position. ”Velena, explain it yourself... or she might kill me over nothing,” Nova said urgently.

Velena nodded and spoke in her usual calm tone.

”Please calm down, Princess. Lord Nova was not doing anything indecent. On the contrary, it was me who unknowingly moved a little too close while cleaning the demonic beast’s blood from his face.”

Nyxara listened carefully. She knew her maid never lied, so she had no choice but to drop the matter.

Still, deep inside, she couldn’t understand why she had become so angry so quickly. She decided not to think about it for now.

She turned back to Nova and asked coldly,

”Why are you even here? Didn’t I tell you to stay at the mansion?” Nova sighed and answered,

”You said I could go out as long as Velena was with me. She is with me right now. I just wanted to stretch my body a little, so I came here to hunt some demonic beasts.”

Velena added in support, ”Yes, Princess. Please don’t be angry with him. It was my idea. I didn’t want him wandering around the Royal City or the other cities, so I brought him here instead.”

Nyxara finally nodded.

”Alright, alright. We’re going back now. If you want to practice, do it at the mansion. There are still powers in this forest and other areas that even Velena cannot protect you from if I’m not around.”

Her tone grew more serious.

”And I don’t want you dying before that duel. Once my engagement is either transferred to one of that bitch Lily’s daughters or cancelled completely, we will leave the Abyss.”

Nova nodded. He also wanted to leave as soon as possible. Once the situation settled, he planned to return only when he no longer felt like he could be killed at any moment. It wasn’t because of his own strength — many low-level demons lived here without worry.

The real problem was that he was now in the spotlight because of his fake relationship with Nyxara.

Soon, the entire Abyss would know about it, which would only place him in greater danger. He needed to get out of here quickly.

However, Nova was still underestimating his own strength.

If Velena hadn’t been there to stop him from fighting the Level 1 Emperor Realm beast, and if Nova had unleashed his true demonic aura—one that rivaled that of a Demon Lord—along with his powerful bloodline suppression, he could have actually fought against the beast.

He might even have been able to defeat it.

But Nova was still hesitant to reveal those abilities in front of Velena. There was also the possibility that powerful demons from other clans were hiding nearby and spying on them, or that Queen Lily had sent someone to secretly monitor them.

”Let’s go back.”

With that, Nyxara opened a portal, and Nova and Velena followed her inside. A moment later, they emerged in the grand hall of Nyxara’s mansion.

Nyxara immediately used Mind Transmission to ask Velena, ”So, how was he? Do you think he’ll be able to win the duel?”

Velena answered without hesitation.

”I think you’re underestimating him, Princess. I’ve never seen anyone as monstrous as him.

Even though his current strength is only at the low level of the King Realm, he was effortlessly killing peak-level King Realm demonic beasts.”

Nyxara’s eyes widened in shock.

She already knew Nova wasn’t an ordinary person, but this was far beyond what she had expected.

And considering that no one had ever displayed such a monstrous feat before, her earlier suspicions about Nova being an extraordinary existence were clearly justified.

Velena continued, ”Not only that, but he also possesses several extremely powerful and unique skills. On top of that, he has a Space Affinity just like you.”

That immediately caught Nyxara’s attention.

She turned her gaze toward Nova, who was sitting comfortably on the sofa and relaxing. Noticing her staring at him, Nova looked at her curiously.

”What is it?”

”Nothing!”

Nova narrowed his eyes slightly, wondering why she was acting strange as usual, but he didn’t think much of it. Nyxara then looked back at Velena.

”Alright. Tell me everything in detail later.”

Velena nodded.

With that, time passed quickly. Nova spent most of his time in his room meditating, as he couldn’t enter the System Training Space.

If he did, his presence would disappear from the mansion, and Nyxara or Velena would eventually notice his absence, which could create unnecessary problems.

During those three days, news about the upcoming duel spread throughout the entire territory of the Zarok Royal Clan.

Rumors about Princess Nyxara’s husband challenging one of her stepbrothers quickly spread among the demons.

The official reason for the duel was to determine whether Nova was truly worthy of becoming the son-in-law of the Zarok Clan.

Of course, that was merely an excuse.

The real purpose was to eliminate Nova and get rid of this nuisance without directly provoking Nyxara’s wrath.

Queen Lily had also strictly ordered everyone to keep the matter within the Zarok Royal Clan. If news of the duel spread to the other Royal Clans, it could create serious problems, especially with the Sloth Clan.

The citizens obeyed the command without question, as they feared Queen Lily’s authority. The Demon Generals also made sure that her orders were followed and that no information about the duel leaked outside the territory.

But even with Queen Lily’s strict orders, completely controlling rumors was impossible. Just like people themselves, words could never be fully controlled.

Despite the efforts of the Zarok Clan and the Demon Generals, news of the duel eventually leaked beyond their territory.

The rumors quickly reached the Lust Clan, which was the closest Royal Clan to the Zarok Clan.

Finally, three days passed. The long-awaited day had arrived.

**

Thanks for reading...