Transmigrated with my corruption system

Stepping into the grand hall, multiple figures stood scattered about, their low murmurs filling the room. The moment the doors swung open, the voices died instantly.

A black-robed youth walked in and made his way unhurriedly to the throne at the far end of the hall.

Ulric seated himself calmly, leaned back, and swept his gaze across the room, instantly scanning every figure present.

All of them were D-rank beings. Normally secluded or buried in their clan’s affairs, yet now they stood before him at his call.

Noting the different emblems and crests embroidered on their robes, Ulric gave a slight nod, recognizing their forces.

As he inspected them, the clan leaders lifted their gazes in turn. They couldn’t hide the glint of surprise in their eyes.

They had heard the rumors, but it was still astounding to see such a young figure leading a clan, especially one said to wield an S-rank talent that had stirred such commotion.

Multiple emotions flashed across their faces as their thoughts churned rapidly.

When the silence stretched too long, Ulric broke it, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

"I suppose you have all come here to bend the knee..."

Before the words had fully left his lips, a bulky man draped in a green robe stepped forward. The crest of the Green Star Clan was prominently engraved on his chest.

He had seen enough to make his decision. Huffing loudly, his voice sliced through the lingering silence.

"I came here to do no such thing... boy!" he spat spitefully.

Despite the youth’s strikingly handsome appearance, he sensed nothing special about him. So what if he had an S-rank talent? He would be long dead before he reached his full potential. The thought made the man snort. He should have stayed hidden instead of declaring a war he clearly knew nothing about.

As his words echoed, Rysten stepped forward, his face darkening. He was about to intervene. This was not what they had agreed upon when he welcomed him.

But before he could speak, Ulric raised a hand slightly. A devious smile stretched across his lips as he stopped Rysten in his tracks. He was mildly intrigued and allowed the man to continue.

Disregarding the gesture, the green-robed man flashed a haughty smile. It was just as he had thought, the boy was weak. Otherwise, he wouldn’t sit there so calmly.

"I came here to measure the scales, and now I see clearly. You hide under the shadow of your father. Those who join your side are on a fool’s errand. I’d rather join the coalition formed against you than partake in this madness!" The green-robed man spat, his burly muscles trembling with conviction.

As the words rang out, the rest of the clan leaders shifted their attention back to Ulric, curious to see how he would react.

Most had come because of the rising tales of his feats, some due to old debts owed to the Greyson house, others because of past relations forged by Greyson.

But if he lacked the strength and will to crush even a single voice of defiance, if he couldn’t rise against one D-rank as the rumors claimed, then what hope did he have against the massive army forming against him? Wouldn’t they simply be marching their clans toward destruction?

Seeing the others beginning to waver, the green-robed man smiled smugly. He spat on the ground and turned to leave.

Just as his heavy footsteps echoed toward the exit, he suddenly paused. A low chuckle rippled from Ulric, quickly erupting into outright maniacal laughter.

Turning slowly, the green-robed man arched a brow. What was the meaning of this?

The rest of the clan leaders stared, equally dumbfounded.

Only Rysten and the Greyson elders trembled slightly, chills racing down their spines. They knew that laughter all too well.

Wheezing, Ulric finally breathed out, "Thadeus..." calling the green-robed figure by name after appraising him.

"That’s an... interesting assumption you have there." He paused, a perplexed expression crossing his face. "There’s just one thing I don’t understand."

"Huh?" Thadeus grunted, turning to stare at the black-robed youth as he inhaled sharply. For some reason, a sliver of fear had frozen in his veins the moment the youth looked at him.

What was the meaning of this? He mused inwardly, quickly discarding the thought. Whatever it was, he couldn’t show weakness.

"What is it?" he growled, trying to mask the unsettling feeling rising inside him.

The instant his voice echoed, the air rippled violently around him.

Before he could react, the dark-robed youth stood before him. Ulric’s hand shot out, grabbing his throat and slowly lifting him into the air.

"Where does this confidence come from?" Ulric muttered. The smile on his face faded into freezing coldness.

He had assumed the man’s arrogance stemmed from great strength, but one glance shattered that illusion.

"Level 51," Ulric muttered, a look of bewilderment flashing in his eyes.

Gasps erupted from the gathered clan leaders. Their eyes widened in shock.

One moment the dark-robed youth had been seated on his throne. The next, he was standing before Thadeus, strangling him with ease and giving him no chance to resist.

Seeing the confusion in the man’s eyes as his mouth opened to speak, Ulric loosened his grip slightly, then flicked his wrist. He sent Thadeus flying across the hall like a rag doll. He smashed into the far wall before sliding slowly to the floor.

When Thadeus raised his head, the contempt in his eyes had been completely washed away, replaced by raw terror. He finally understood.

That unsettling fear was eerily similar to what he felt when facing higher-ranked monsters in the wild.

But it was already too late.

Ulric waved his hand. His aura exploded outward, crashing down with crushing force.

A deafening silence descended over the hall as the pressure slammed into the green-robed man, rendering him completely helpless. He couldn’t even a draw breath under the weight of Ulric’s full aura.

Walking closer, Ulric crouched down with an indifferent look in his eyes.

He could have ended the fight in a single exchange using his darkness... but this man wasn’t worthy of it.

Clenching his fingers, Ulric smashed his fist into Thadeus’s head, shattering it into multiple pieces and killing him instantly.

He rose slowly to his feet. A mist of darkness emerged to corrode the blood from his knuckles.

In the next instant, his figure vanished, reappearing before his throne as his voice echoed coldly across the silent hall once more.

"I will not repeat myself."