Damn, I Have to Marry the Strongest Antagonist at the Start?

A moment later, the group arrived at a grand, circular hall.

Inside, dozens of noble children aged between five and ten were already waiting quietly.

At the front of the hall, a scholar clad in white robes was explaining the rules of the test.

Behind him stood a massive magic array, at the center of which floated a diamond-shaped crystal used for talent assessment.

Upon seeing the Empress and her ministers enter, both the scholar and the noble children bowed in unison.

"Your Majesty!"

"Carry on with the testing," the Empress said coolly. "I'm only here to see if there's anyone worth nurturing."

"Elena, get in line."

With a wave of her hand, the Empress gestured, her face as cold as ever.

The crowd was used to her icy demeanor—after all, she treated everyone the same.

Elena obediently moved to the end of the line, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Having grown up in the mountains, everything here was new and fascinating to her.

"Dear young lords and ladies," the scholar announced, "when your name is called, step forward and drop a single drop of blood into the center of the magic array. The array will automatically assess your talent level."

"Your innate talent determines the heights you can reach in the future—so please take this seriously."

"A novice rank talent will emit white light, mid rank blue, high rank gold, and grand archmage level... seven-colored light!"

Having explained the rules, the scholar inserted several mana crystals around the edges of the array.

The array activated with a gentle hum, and intricate runes began to spin slowly.

All the children craned their necks to watch with excitement.

Even Elena brought over a small stool, standing on tiptoe as she watched with delight.

Once the array was ready, the scholar cleared his throat.

"Begin testing in order!"

The noble children stepped forward one by one, disciplined and composed under the watchful eyes of the Empress and her ministers.

Even the most mischievous of them dared not act up in her presence.

"Son of the Northern Earl—blue light, mid-rank talent! Next!"

"Daughter of the Western Marquis—golden light, high-rank talent! Next!"

As the tests proceeded, some children beamed with joy while others left with heads hung low.

During this event in the imperial capital, Ursula had taught Elena many royal customs and rules.

Elena understood—this test would shape their destinies.

Those with excellent talent would receive full support from their families; the mediocre would likely be cast aside.

Out of the fifty-plus children, more than half were tested within the hour—but not a single one reached grand archmage level.

Watching them, Elena clenched her tiny fists nervously.

At that moment, a cold yet unexpectedly gentle hand landed atop her head.

"You'll be fine," the Empress said, her voice unusually soft. "I believe in you. Let those old fools see just how wrong they are."

Elena nodded vigorously. "Mm! Father is so powerful—Elena won't fall short! I'll definitely awaken grand archmage talent and make big sis proud!"

Their heartfelt exchange drew mocking chuckles from the Thunder Knight Commander and his faction.

"A little country bumpkin dreaming of becoming a phoenix?"

"Grand archmage-level talent doesn't just fall from the sky."

"Let's see how the Empress saves face when that girl turns out to be trash."

In the shadows, Commander Yelude watched, a glint of malice in his eyes.

———

Meanwhile, far away in the valley, Owen, having confirmed his daughter's safety, had indulged in a full day's rest.

When he finally woke, he pulled an old, yellowed magic tome from under the bed and began studying it intently.

[Host is advised to practice magic diligently, or the system shall reprimand you!]

The system, unable to bear Owen's lazy pace, finally spoke up.

"Shut it! I'm getting into the right state of mind for the lottery!"

"I remember I got a free draw when I activated you, right? What kind of stuff can I pull?" he asked, washing his hands.

[Ding! The system lottery includes every concept from the world of swords and sorcery—everything imaginable!]

"No Creator God blood or anything like that?" Owen asked skeptically.

Was the system's prestige really this low now?

[Response: There are countless transmigration worlds. If every system handed out Creator God bloodlines, there wouldn't be a Creator God left! How much divine blood do you think there is to go around?]

Just then, a golden wheel appeared in Owen's mind, its surface packed with countless rewards:

Elemental Codex, Starfall Staff, Fountain of Life, Dragon Crystal, legendary potions...

Even mythical mounts and elf maids were on there!

It was truly a treasure trove.

However... rewards like elf maids occupied only the tiniest slivers on the wheel.

"All these amazing items—only available through the lottery?" Owen's eyes glittered.

[Daily rewards are also drawn from this pool, but lotteries have a higher chance of obtaining rarities!]

[Host's state of mind has just been 'calibrated.' Luck should be optimal. Begin the lottery?]

"Of course!"

The pointer began spinning rapidly.

"Elf maid… ancient Dragon Crystal…"

"Stop already! Don't you dare land on something useless for my first spin!"

Owen silently prayed as the wheel slowed.

It landed on… "Better luck next time."

"By the gods! Not even a junk item?!"

But just as Owen was about to erupt in rage, the system chimed in:

[Ding! Elena is about to awaken a special bloodline. Host may now choose a bloodline to assign, aiding her future growth!]

Owen immediately shut up and opened her status panel.

Under the bloodline field, one word appeared: Normal.

"So we really are just an average father and daughter… No special lineage, and now the lottery gave me nothing…"

"What am I supposed to give my daughter?"

Just then, the previously stopped pointer nudged forward slightly… and clicked into the next segment!

[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained the legendary Elemental Affinity Bloodline!]

[Would you like to grant this to Elena?]

"Wait—what just happened? Did the wheel move on its own?"

"Elemental Affinity Bloodline? Legendary?!"

Owen blinked, stunned.

But when he read the full description, his jaw dropped.

"By the gods! This bloodline is insane! If Elena has it, it's basically mine too! Why waste it?"

"Oh, and toss in today's sign-in reward too!"

[Ding! Sign-in complete. You've received: One Roast Turkey. Item delivered!]

———

"Last one—Elena!"

Back in the testing hall, the scholar called her name as if out of routine.

His apathetic tone suggested this batch of children had thoroughly disappointed him.

Hearing her name, Elena bounced joyfully to the stage.

"Hello, Teacher! It's finally my turn!"

Seeing the girl in her plain linen dress, with a rough cloth satchel on her shoulder and porcelain-doll-like features, the scholar felt oddly uplifted.

"Such a polite child… Even if she's humbly dressed."

"Here—just a drop of blood in the center of the array."

Elena pulled out a small knife from her bag and, without hesitation, pricked her fingertip.

A single drop of blood fell.

All eyes turned to her—the Empress, Ursula, and even Eldritch, who was hiding in the shadows.

The daughter of the Magic God—what kind of talent would she reveal?

Elena placed the blood into the center of the array.

To everyone's surprise… the crystal only flickered faintly. Then—nothing.

"Teacher, what level am I?" Elena asked, full of anticipation.

The scholar blinked in confusion. "Well… it appears you have no talent."

"What?! But Father said I'm a once-in-a-century genius!"

Disappointment crushed her small frame.

Gasps spread through the room.

The Empress and the others could hardly believe it.

How could the daughter of the man who broke the Curse of the Netherlord have no talent?

No wonder Elena couldn't use magic…

The Thunder Knight Commander and his lackeys burst into jeers:

"With talent that poor, she's not getting into the royal court!"

"She doesn't even qualify for novice rank! At best, she'll be a magic errand girl!"

"Your Majesty, what exactly do you see in this child? It's not rebellion—we just can't accept her incompetence!"

Hearing this, Yevna's eyes burned with barely restrained fury.

She wanted nothing more than to silence them—but as an Empress, she could not execute officials in broad daylight.

Watching Elena being ridiculed, her heart twisted with unexpected pain.

Why did she care so deeply for a child who shared no blood with her?

Just as Yevna was about to lash out, Elena raised her chin defiantly.

"No! Father said I'm a genius—it must not have been enough blood!"

She prepared to cut herself again.

But then… a warm current surged through her body.

It felt as though her blood had been transformed by some unknown force.

Power coursed through her veins, and a strange craving for blood briefly surfaced.

Elena shook off the odd sensation and dropped another bead of blood onto the array.

In that instant—

The crystal erupted in radiant seven-colored light!

The entire hall was bathed in dazzling hues.

"By the gods! Nothing happened before—now this?!"

"Did the array malfunction?"

"Or did that girl just awaken something... extraordinary?"

All eyes turned to the scholar.

He stared, dumbfounded, then frantically pulled out an ancient tome.

"No, the array is fine! She must have awakened a special bloodline!"

"In my hundred years of testing, I've never seen a phenomenon like this!"

Everyone held their breath. Even the Empress and Eldritch stood frozen.

After several tense minutes, the scholar suddenly gasped and held up the tome with trembling hands.

"I've found it!"

"God of Light, it's real! This girl has…"

"Elemental Affinity Bloodline!"