Demon Lord's Reincarnation

Everyone was thinking that Julius was the one behind all the misfortunes that came to Nero but the truth was Julius did not do a single one of those things. The ones who did all of that were those who wanted Julius to become patriarch.

On the other hand, Julius never thought of using any underhanded tactics during these five days since he truly believed in his victory in the duel. Everything was going as he envisioned with Ren saying that anything goes, with that in mind Julius could use everything at his disposal.

Unlike, Nero who was born with all the best qualities a member of the Loder Clan could have, he was born as a weakling. Granted Julius was stronger than normal people but that's compared to normal people outside of the clan within the clan he was not even at the average strength threshold.

On the other hand, Nero was born powerful and was said to have a body that could compare to their Ancestor Cry Loder. He was praised as the strongest from the very beginning, he was also praised as the second coming of Cry Loder, and he was only second to the reincarnations of the Strongest Mortal Soul in terms of talent.

Nero was always at the top of the food chain within the clan it was almost inevitable that he would become the patriarch. On the other hand, Julius was thought to be a failure that wouldn't amount to much and would most likely die in the war against the Gods. Julius clawed his way up and did everything and anything to reach his current position as an elder.

Julius who did everything to seek his own truth was finally acknowledged as someone who had a similar temperament as the Ancestor Cry Loder.

Both Nero and Julius were very charismatic but for different reasons. Nero was popular due to his overwhelming power, while Julius was popular for rising to the top from the very bottom.

...

Julius who was in his workshop was busy making his potions even better than before. He already knew that he was no match for Nero if they fought as is, but that's why he was happy to hear that the duel was anything goes which means he can use any means necessary to win.

Julius had created a potion through alchemy that could enhance his power for a short time. This was the potion he was going to use to defeat the Old God, of course, he wasn't just relying on this he had also created a poison that could even affect Gods.

'The enhancement potion could still be improved upon, and since I have a few more days left before the start of the duel I have time to improve it. I also need to create a weapon that is easy to use and can help me inflict even a minor injury on Nero so that the poison will work.'

Julius's mind was thinking fast as he started writing what he was imagining on paper. When he finally defeats Nero in a duel he will finally prove to everyone that he was never a failure and that he was the best.

'I can do this, not only will I prove myself to all those who looked down on me. I could also show my worth to the Ancestor's reincarnation, Ren.'

The thought of losing did not even cross Julius's mind and was now filled with the picture of his victory. A smile appeared on his face as he continued working on improving his enhancement potion.

...

While Julius was focusing on improving his potions, Nero was still being harassed. Still, the form of harassment had actually helped him improve. Due to different types of poisons that had entered his body in such a short time, Nero started gaining a high resistance to the poisons, in fact, he was now immune to many of them.

"I would like to see the face of that guy when he learns that instead of harming you what he was doing was helping you instead." Erik happily spoke to Nero who was training by swinging a heavy axe.

"You know I don't think Julius is the one who told those guys to do those things. Even though you and the other people think that Julius is a sinister guy, in truth, he isn't bad. Among all the people here even me included, Julius is the most hard-working guy I know."

"... You keep on saying that, but I can't imagine that we're seeing the same guy. That guy who always locks himself in his workshop doing who knows what, while creating various things with alchemy. Isn't he also the guy who created a poison that could kill even dragons? When I think about that the picture I always see is a sinister guy wearing a hood with a sly smile."

"Have you ever even bothered to talk to Julius?"

"... No, but that guy doesn't even like talking to anyone."

"That's just your assumption, in truth, Julius is very talkative once you catch his interest. He also does his job as an elder very seriously and has helped a lot of our juniors. In fact, he was also the one who noticed Reiner's talent and guided him to the path he is walking on now."

"Really? That gloomy guy has done so much, but how come I never heard about that?"

"Our clan might have an honorable lineage, but even then there are some rotten corners hidden in the dark. As you know many of the former elders and even the past patriarch had a bias against Julius, because of his lack of what they perceive as talent.

So many of us in our generation did not look at him properly, we did not see the man called Julius Loder, but instead, we saw the so-called talentless man with no future."

"..."

Erik could not say anything when he heard what Nero said. It was true he did not look properly at Julius at all. Everything he knew about the man was just his bias that was formed long ago, in truth, he knew nothing, not a single thing about the man called Julius Loder.

"I was like you once, I did not see him properly, until that day... When everybody dismissed him as useless, he did not give up he worked tirelessly to improve himself. While others were leisurely walking the path to the truth, he was running as fast as he could like a madman.

He did everything he could to show that he was not a failure and finally became an elder, but even then there were still many who looked down on him. That's why he is so obsessed with becoming the patriarch."

"... Nero, I think I know the answer to this already, or at least I hope I do, but are you going to let him win?"

"I will not insult Julius's efforts by letting him win. I will do my best to win this duel, that you can be certain of."

"Heh, yeah that was a foolish question indeed... Hey, Nero do you think Julius would be a good patriarch?"

Nero did not answer immediately and closed his eyes, memories of Julius's efforts to reach his current position came into his mind. A smile appeared on Nero's face as he opened his eyes and answered.

"Yeah, he would be the best patriarch."