Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 261: Collapse (3)

Chapter 261: Collapse (3)

Yuri’s‍ sword aura shattered everything around him.‍

Dust⁠‍ mixed with acrid‍ smoke, rising thick‍ before slowly settling.⁠

In⁠‍⁠ the place ravaged‌‌ by the whirlwind,‍‍ only the enemy’s‍⁠ corpses remained. Not even the monsters‌⁠ unleashed by the‍ Empire had emerged unscathed from Yuri’s attack.

“As expected, that’s impressive.”⁠⁠

Jared⁠⁠⁠ spoke with genuine‍‍ admiration. He had‌‍‍ always followed Yuri⁠‍ and witnessed firsthand‌⁠ his absurd rate⁠‍ of growth, but‍ now he felt⁠ Yuri was on a level completely‍‍ beyond his reach.‍

Laurent,‌ silent, extended his‌ hand.

“Yuri⁠ Briol. This isn’t‌‍‌ the time to show off your⁠ strength. Your target⁠ is that guy,‌⁠ isn’t it?”

“Ah,‌‌ right.”

After‍ being torn apart‍ once by Yuri’s‍ whirlwind, the Imperial‍‍ forces began to‍⁠ retreat. The Imperial‍ commander also turned‌⁠ his body while giving orders.

Yuri‍ had no intention‌‍ of letting him escape.

He‍‌ crouched down, picked‌ up a broken‍ sword from among‌ the Imperial corpses,⁠‌ and, running forward,‍ hurled it like‍⁠ a spear.

The⁠ broken steel didn’t‌‍ trace an arc‌ but flew in‍ a straight line.⁠‍ The energy it‍ carried ripped through the air and⁠ produced a sonic‍‌ boom.

Boom!‌‍

The‌ Imperial commander raised his sword and‍⁠ managed to block⁠⁠ Yuri’s attack, but⁠‍ the explosion and‍ impact forced him back several steps.⁠

Inside‍‍ the black helmet,⁠⁠ his eyes glared‌‍‌ fiercely at Yuri.‌⁠

Yuri⁠ kept advancing.

“Jared,⁠ Laurent. Clear the‍⁠ way.”

“Yes!”⁠⁠

“……”‌

Laurent‌ didn’t respond, but he carried out‌ the order.

The⁠‍⁠ polished sword flow⁠⁠‌ of Jared and‍ Laurent’s fierce energy⁠‌ swept the front⁠⁠ clear for Yuri.⁠‍

Cutting‍ through the corridor they opened, Yuri⁠⁠ rushed toward the‌‍ commander.

With‍‌‌ a single leap,⁠ he closed the‌ distance and immediately‌‌ brought Guilty down‌‍⁠ toward his head.

At that moment, something‍ blocked his sword.

Yuri⁠ spun in midair,‌ landing behind the‍⁠ enemy.

“You…”‌

He‍ turned toward the commander.

“So you’re the one‌⁠ controlling them.”

Just before cleaving his‍‌ head, he had‍ seen the tentacles‌⁠ emerging from his‍ body.

He‍‍‌ wasn’t simply under⁠ mental control—he had already become part‌ of the black⁠‍ magic.

The‍ commander approached Yuri‌⁠ in silence, tentacles‍‍⁠ undulating from his⁠‍ back. The sight‌ reminded him of Sybilla, and his⁠‍⁠ brow furrowed.

He shook his head‍ and, using a precise cut, pierced⁠ the commander’s abdomen.‍⁠

Guilty⁠‌ tore through his chest and returned⁠‌⁠ to his hand.⁠ Blood spurted.

“Did⁠ I finish him?”⁠

He‌ murmured, but a being corrupted by⁠ black magic wouldn’t⁠ die so easily. The commander, staggering‍ and bleeding, regained‌‍ his balance and‌‍ walked toward him‌‍⁠ again.

At⁠ the same time,⁠⁠ the nearby monsters‍ began crawling toward⁠‍ Yuri.

It⁠ was clear the‌ commander had control‌ over them.

“Hey.”‌‍

Yuri‍ addressed the Imperial⁠‌‍ knights surrounding him‍‍ at a distance.⁠

“Aren’t⁠‌ you ashamed to‍‌ be standing next‍ to that thing?”‌‍

They⁠ only looked at‍‍ him with stiff‍‌ expressions. But their⁠⁠ blankness didn’t last⁠‍ long.

Laurent and Jared, having‍‌ just arrived, rushed‌ at them.

Several‍ Imperial knights, distracted⁠⁠ by Yuri, fell‍ dead instantly, and the rest engaged in combat.

Blades⁠ sliced through the‌ air, filling the⁠ scene with flashes‌ of light.

As‌‍ if that disturbance⁠‌ were the signal,‌⁠ the commander and the monsters charged‍ at Yuri.

He couldn’t block all‌ the tentacles attacking⁠ so violently. He‍‍ created an aura‍ shield to stop⁠‍ them en masse, then charged straight‍‌ at the commander.

Numerous tentacles slammed against‌ his wall of‌ energy, but they‌‌ couldn’t break through.⁠

Ignoring the monsters, he‍⁠⁠ stood face-to-face with‌‍ the commander, who wielded his sword⁠⁠ and used his⁠ tentacles at the‍‍ same time.

“Tsk.”‍

He‍ was far more‍ troublesome than usual.‌

His⁠ sword skill wasn’t‍ low either—he had⁠‍ probably been a knight captain in⁠⁠‌ his previous life.⁠

That‍‌ was the Empire—even⁠‌ warriors like this‌⁠ ended up letting‍ themselves be parasitized by black magic.‌

“Damn‌ it.”

The‌ thought filled him⁠ with bitterness.

Cedric‌‍‌ had taken complete‌ control of the Empire. With his‍⁠⁠ prodigious mind and‌ black magic, it⁠‌ was impossible to⁠⁠ imagine what horrors‌‍ he was carrying out.

If‌ things continued this⁠⁠ way, there would⁠‌ be no escape.‍⁠⁠

He‍‍ had to push⁠‌ into the heart‌ of the Empire,‍‌⁠ assault the capital,‍‍ and cut off⁠‍ Cedric’s head.

But‌ that goal felt⁠⁠‌ far away.

Gripping‍⁠ Guilty tightly, he‌⁠⁠ unleashed a fierce‌⁠ slash. The sword‌‍ released multiple waves⁠ of energy, but‌ the tentacles absorbed‍ all the impact.‍‌

Their⁠ swords clashed, making‌ the air rumble.‌

“A useless resistance.”

For‌‍ the first time,⁠⁠ the commander spoke.‌ His voice didn’t‍ sound human.

At‌‌ that moment, Yuri⁠⁠ felt the strange⁠⁠ energy emanating from‌ his eyes.

A torrent of negative⁠⁠‍ emotions tried to‌ invade him, like⁠‌ when he had‌‍‌ touched the demonic⁠ grimoire and seen‍⁠⁠ the eye floating above the tower.‍

But‍‍ it had no‌‌ effect.

He⁠⁠ had already returned⁠‌ after witnessing a darkness far greater.‍ The illusions of‍‍ a pawn like⁠⁠ this were nothing.‍

Gathering‌ the energy of‌ the Cut of‌⁠ the soul and⁠ the heart, he‌ unleashed another strike.

The‌⁠ sword opened a wound in the⁠‌ commander’s chest.

The⁠‍‌ commander, surprised that‍⁠ Yuri had broken‍ his trick so‍ easily, extended his tentacles and attacked‍‍ in a frenzy.⁠⁠

However,‌‍ they failed to⁠ pierce the wall⁠ of aura he‌⁠‍ had erected.

Another‌⁠⁠ slash.

The‍‍ commander’s body collapsed.‌‍

There‌ was no chaos‍‍ or confusion. The‌ Imperial army didn’t‍‌⁠ know retreat, fighting‍ in place like⁠ war machines.

But‌⁠ without tactical orders,‌ the distinctive pattern⁠ that had harried the Anti-Imperial Coalition vanished.

Now⁠ they only charged‌‍ forward, making them⁠ easier to face.‍‍

At‍ that moment, Inariel’s‌ magic manifested again.‌ This time, it⁠ wasn’t a fireball.‌

Above⁠ the Coalition’s battlefield⁠ appeared a dazzling‌‍ sphere. It looked‍⁠ like a core‌‌ of light, but‌‍ on closer inspection,‌⁠ it was made‌⁠ up of countless‍‍ meteors trailing their⁠ tails, intertwining to‌⁠ form the sphere.

One‍ by one, they⁠‍ began to break‍‍ away and fall⁠⁠‍ toward their targets.‍

“Ah…”‌⁠‍

For‍‍ a moment, Yuri‌ forgot he was‌ on the battlefield⁠ and looked up.‍⁠ It was like⁠ watching a small‍‌ meteor shower.

Those‍‌‌ lights were all magic arrows, each⁠ with its own⁠ trajectory.

It⁠‍ was the Magic‌ Arrow spell, common⁠ among mages, but⁠ recreated here in⁠‌ uncountable numbers and‍ hurled toward the‍⁠‌ ground.

Each‌⁠ projectile recognized its‍ target and moved‌‌⁠ accordingly. In this‌ way, without a single stray shot,⁠ they all avoided‍‌ allies and pierced‌ only the Empire’s‍ troops.

The‍ sight of the falling arrows of light tearing through⁠ the enemy had‌ a peculiar beauty.‌

“Impressive.”‍

Yuri‍ couldn’t help but‌ admire it.

Being‍ able not only⁠ to conjure magic⁠ but to direct‍ it so it⁠ struck only enemies‍⁠ was an extremely⁠‍‍ useful ability in‌‍ war.

With⁠ that single attack,‍‌ the flow of‍‍‌ battle shifted once‍‌‍ more.

Now,‌ the Anti-Imperial Alliance‌⁠ forces completely dominated‍‌ the Imperial troops.⁠

Even‍‌ the Imperial knights⁠‍ who had been‍ surrounding Yuri glanced⁠ toward the front,‍‍ assessing the situation‍ with tense faces.‌‌

“What’s‌‍ wrong? Looking for⁠‍ an opening?”

Yuri⁠⁠⁠ sneered.

“Do⁠⁠ you really think‌ you’ll be able‍‍ to escape?”

With‍⁠‍ that, he charged‍⁠‍ at them.

Laurent⁠ and Jared followed,‌‍‍ swinging their swords.‍‌

Yuri’s‍ turbulent Cut of‍‌⁠ the soul and‍ the heart mana,‌‌ Laurent’s dark energy, and Jared’s white⁠⁠ blade burst into‌ multiple waves that tore through the‌‌⁠ enemies.

Even‍⁠ those corrupted by⁠ black magic bled⁠‌ red. Blood and‌‌‍ chunks of flesh splattered the air.‌‍‍

Finally,⁠‍ the Anti-Imperial Alliance⁠‌⁠ forces advanced with‌ a victorious roar.‌

Yuri⁠‍ stood, sword in⁠‌‌ hand.

“We’ve⁠‍ won.”

“Good‌‌ work.”

“Haa…”‌

At‍⁠ first, he had‌‌⁠ been the one‍‍‍ charging at the‌‍⁠ front, but now‌‍‍ the allied troops⁠ surged forward en‍ masse, leaving behind⁠‍ the position where‍ he stood.

They‌‌ left no Imperial‍ soldier alive.

Yuri‍ turned his gaze⁠‍ toward Imperial territory.⁠

“We’ve won… but…”

He‍⁠ couldn’t shake an‌ unease pressing in his chest.

“Why⁠‍ that face, Your Highness?”

“I’m⁠‍‍ worried about the‌ other fronts.”

***‍‌

Yuri’s‍ fears came true.‌‍

News⁠‌ arrived that the‍‍ front defended by‌‍ Liberta had fallen⁠‍ and that Moyongchan had been injured.‍⁠⁠

The‌ Holy Kingdom and⁠‍ Brusen had also‌ suffered severe damage from intense fighting.‍⁠

“They⁠ say they weren’t⁠ monsters like the⁠ ones we saw here.”

The messenger spoke gravely.‌‍

“Multiple⁠⁠⁠ types of monsters⁠‍ appeared and smashed⁠ through the lines.‌ Also, two enemies‌⁠‌ of unknown identity‌ attacked Lord Moyongchan‍ together. It was⁠ a terrible battle.‌⁠‌ He barely managed‍‍ to evacuate, but⁠ he’s gravely injured…”‍⁠

Yuri put a hand⁠‍⁠ to his forehead.‍‍

The‍‍ defensive line was broken.

It‌‍ was impossible to know how many‍‌⁠ Imperial troops would‍ pour through that‌ breach.

Should‌ they strive to‍‍ plug the open‌‌ line, or abandon that section and⁠ push directly into‍⁠ the Empire to⁠⁠ assault the Imperial‌ capital?

“Your‍ Highness.”

“Hm?”⁠

“A⁠ message from His‌ Majesty.”

A new messenger handed‌⁠‌ him a letter with Briol’s royal‍ seal.

It was from Joshua.‍‌

“From‍⁠‌ my brother? What‌ does he want?”⁠

Just‍ as Yuri was about to open it, someone appeared⁠‍‌ at his side.‍ A whisper of‌⁠ presence, a shadow‍‌‌ that materialized without‌ warning. Yuri raised‌ his head.

“Huh?”‍

It⁠ was someone he‍‌ hadn’t expected at‍‍ all. A face he hadn’t seen in a long‍⁠ time.

Yuri smiled broadly.

***‍

“I’ll⁠ stay here.”

“Huh?”⁠

“That’s‌ fine, right?”

The royal palace of‍‌ Briol was in‌ complete disarray over‌⁠ the unexpected arrival‍‌⁠ of a visitor.⁠‍⁠

But‍ the newcomer strolled‌⁠⁠ through its halls‍⁠‌ as if it‌ were the most‍‌ natural thing in‍ the world.

“I⁠ want to stay‍⁠⁠ here. The current‍⁠ occupant isn’t here,‍ right?”

“That’s‌ true, but…”

“He’ll‌ agree.”

“Are‍ you close? Ah,⁠⁠ right, Your Highness‍ was in the⁠⁠‌ Imperial capital.”

“Exactly.‌‌ We met then.”‌‌⁠

It was something no‍ one could have‍⁠ foreseen.

Yekaterina⁠ had appeared in‍ the royal palace‍ of Briol.

Not only was it⁠ unusual for the‍‌ Imperial princess, who‌‍⁠ should have been⁠ in the capital,‍ to visit Briol;‌ the most surprising‌ thing was that‌ she had managed‍ to arrive without⁠ the entire continent⁠⁠ finding out.

And,‍⁠ to top it‍ off, she had‍ requested full asylum.⁠

Even‌⁠‌ so, the first‍‌ thing she asked‍⁠‍ for was to‍⁠ choose her quarters.⁠‌

And⁠‍⁠ the place she⁠‍ chose was precisely‌‍ the room used‍‍ by the Prince⁠‍‌ of Briol, Yuri‌‌ Briol.

“If‌ not, ask Yuri.⁠ He’ll say yes.”

“This⁠ is beyond my⁠ jurisdiction, but I’ll confirm it.”

“Good.”⁠‍

“Also,‍ His Majesty wishes‍ to receive you⁠‌ again…”

“Understood.”

After‍ answering the aide,‍⁠ Yekaterina whispered into‌ Elaine’s ear.

“Don’t⁠⁠ you think Joshua‌‍ is interested in‌ me?”

“I‍‌‌ don’t know…”

The⁠‌ truth was, it did seem that‌ way.

But⁠⁠ it wasn’t something⁠ for which Joshua‌ could be blamed. In order to‍⁠ win Briol’s favor,‍ Yekaterina had displayed‌⁠‍ her charms without⁠ restraint. That a young King of‍⁠ Briol would feel‌ unsettled when facing‌⁠ such beauty was‍⁠ almost inevitable.

As they made their‌‍ way toward the‌ main hall, they‍ spoke in low‌‍ voices.

“Anyway,‌‌‍ thanks to you⁠‍ we made it here. Good work,‌‌ Elaine.”

“Yes,‍⁠ it was quite‌⁠ exhausting.”

Elaine‌ let out a sigh.

Without‍ revealing their identities,⁠ they had traveled‌‍ a long and⁠‌⁠ dangerous road to‍ the palace of‌‍ Briol, always under⁠‌ disguise.

Unfortunately, just after evading⁠⁠ patrols and crossing⁠ the Imperial border,‍⁠ war had broken‌‍ out.

So‍ they had to‌ cross the continent⁠ while avoiding the‍⁠⁠ chaos of conflict.‌

Throughout‌‍‍ that journey, Elaine’s‌‌ skill had shone.⁠‍

Yekaterina,‍‍ recalling those moments, smiled and patted⁠⁠ her on the⁠ shoulder.

“Why‌ that face?”

“Hmm…”‌

“What⁠ is it?”

“Do⁠‌ you remember the‍‌ Black Knight?”

The⁠‌ most tense moment‍⁠ had undoubtedly been‌‌‍ when the Black⁠ Knight appeared.

Somehow,‍ he had found⁠‍ them while they‌ were fleeing and had delivered a message from Yuri‍ before disappearing.

He‌‍ had even helped⁠ them by eliminating‍‍ Imperial soldiers who⁠ were pursuing them.

“The‌ Black Knight delivered‍ us words from‍ His Highness, remember?”‍

“Yes.”⁠‍⁠

“But‍⁠ there’s something that⁠⁠ doesn’t add up.”‌

“What is it?”

“At‍ first, I didn’t⁠⁠‌ notice…”

Elaine‌ remembered.

When‍ she had an⁠ idea about the‌‌ East, she had‌ sent someone to‍ inform Yuri. But⁠‍⁠ the messenger returned‍ saying he had‌‌ received no reply⁠⁠‍ and brought no‌‌⁠ answer at all.

After‌‍⁠ that, with stricter‌ control in the⁠‍ Imperial capital, contact‍ with the outside‌ world had been cut off.

At⁠ the time, she hadn’t given it⁠‌ much thought.

But then the Black‍‍⁠ Knight appeared.

And‌ he had delivered‌ a message from⁠‍‍ Yuri that wasn’t‍ relevant to their⁠ situation as fugitives,‍‍ but rather about‌ the East.

Elaine had felt something‌ didn’t add up.⁠‌‍ It was as‍‍ if the previous‌‍ messenger had never‍ properly conveyed the‌⁠ message.

At‌‍ her explanation, Yekaterina⁠ tilted her head‍‌‍ and mentioned the‍‌‍ messenger’s name.

“So⁠‌ you’re saying you suspect Asana?”