Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 268: Gift from the King (3)

Chapter 268: Gift from the King (3)

Sron‍⁠⁠ roared in fury‍⁠ as he swung‌⁠‍ his sword.

He⁠‍ pulled throwing weapons⁠ from his chest⁠⁠ and hurled them, scattering black magic‍‍ energy.

But‌‍ he couldn’t even⁠‍ graze Saned.

It‍ was a strange‍⁠ sword style—the blade‌⁠‍ of this Saned‌‌ moved like the⁠⁠ head of a snake with a will of its‌ own, following and disturbing the path‍ of his attacks‍‌‌ before striking back.‍

No‍‍ matter where Sron aimed, he couldn’t break through—it was‍‍ like facing a wall.

From‍ an assassin’s perspective, if it were‌‍‍ a spear-against-spear fight,‍‍ there would always‌⁠ be a way‍ to complete the⁠ objective. They could⁠‌ wait for the⁠⁠ instant the opponent⁠ attacked to slip‌‍ past and surprise⁠⁠ the target.

But‍ now, he couldn’t‌ even imagine such‍ a scene.

To‍ Sron, Saned was‍ like a massive‌‌ shield that filled his entire field⁠‌ of vision.

It⁠ didn’t seem possible⁠ to get to‍‍ the King of⁠‌ Briol who was⁠ beyond him.

Sron⁠‍⁠ stepped back and‌‌‍ looked at the‌‍ other assassins.

Except‌ for one who⁠⁠ had died, seven⁠‍‍ remained. They couldn’t‌‌ afford not to bring this man‌‌‍ down.

He‍‌‌ closed his eyes‌ and then opened‍‌ them again.

His⁠ aura changed.

Saned‌‌ sensed something, stepped‌⁠‌ back, and raised his sword.

“Hm…”‍‌

Sron‍ stopped restraining the black magic boiling‍ inside him and‍⁠ let it overflow⁠⁠‌ through his entire‌⁠ body. The dark⁠⁠‌ energy from his core, once held⁠ back, began to spread freely.

His body swelled even‍‍ more.

Anyone⁠‌‍ who had felt‌ the power of‍ black magic even‍‌ once knew there‍ was no way to resist it. This time was‌ no different.

“I’ll‌ hold him off.⁠ Go after the‍⁠‍ king.”

With‍ that, Sron charged‍ at Saned.

He‍ unleashed chaotic strikes,⁠‌ as if his⁠⁠ sword were splitting‍‍ into multiple paths⁠‌ seeking any opening—but Saned blocked them‌ all, one after‌‍ another.

In‍ just moments, they⁠ exchanged dozens of⁠‌ blows.

Meanwhile,⁠ the assassins scattered,‌‌‌ trying to get‍‍ past Saned.

“Where⁠⁠‍ do you think⁠‍‍ you’re going?”

Saned‌⁠‌ turned his body‌‌ and slammed into one of them.‍ A flash of‍‍ swordlight cut through⁠‍ the air, his‌ blade piercing the assassin and killing‍ him instantly.

The‌‌⁠ corpse fell to‍⁠ the ground.

As⁠ Saned turned to‍ go after another, Sron lunged at‌ his back.

Blood splattered.

He‌‌ made a long cut across Saned’s⁠⁠ back, but it‌‍ wasn’t fatal. Saned⁠ twisted to avoid⁠‌ the next strike⁠‍‍ and countered, stabbing⁠‍ a vital spot.⁠‍‍

The‌‌ two rolled on⁠⁠ the ground, bleeding.‍

Sron‍‍ thought that would keep Saned from‍‌⁠ moving further.

But‍⁠ the captain immediately‌‍⁠ got back up‍ and rushed after the remaining assassins.‍ Sron followed with difficulty. In the⁠ chase, Saned caught⁠‍ another.

Their‌ swords clashed.

Saned‍‍ avoided the blow;⁠⁠ the assassin did‌‌ not. His body was split in‍⁠ two.

Even⁠ in death, the‍ assassin clung to‍‌ Saned’s body with‌ twitching hands.

At‍⁠ that moment, Sron‍ attacked.

“Die!”‍

Saned‍‌‌ rolled to the‌ side, using the‌ corpse as a shield. Sron’s sword‌‌‍ sliced empty air.‍

He⁠⁠ rolled away, pushed‍ the body aside,‌ and rose to‌‌ his feet. Sron pressed the attack, but Saned dodged⁠ without striking back,‍ focusing on chasing‍ the others.

“Damn‍ insect!”

“That’s⁠⁠⁠ you.”

Saned moved quickly. By⁠ the time Sron‍ caught up to‍⁠ him, he was‍⁠ already attacking another⁠‍ assassin’s back.

But‌ that one reacted‌‍ swiftly, turning before‌‌ the sword could reach him and⁠⁠‌ counterattacking. Their blades‌‌ met.

In‌ that brief instant,‍ Sron managed to wound Saned in⁠‍ the shoulder. Blood⁠‍ gushed out.

“Tsk!”‍‌‌

Saned‌ kicked him away.‍⁠

Sron‌ stepped back, then⁠‌ leapt, cutting downward‌ toward Saned’s head‌‌ while the assassin⁠⁠ beside him swung‍ horizontally.

The‌ crossing strike bore down on Saned.

At⁠‍ that moment, the⁠⁠ captain stabbed his‍‌‍ sword into the‌ ground and released‍ sword energy.

The‌ blade emitted a semi-transparent barrier that‌ collided with both‌ attacks and exploded.⁠ The shockwave sent⁠ Sron and the‍⁠ assassin flying.

Saned‌ didn’t escape unscathed⁠ either.

With⁠‍ his battered body,‌⁠ he drew a breath and stepped⁠‍‍ toward Sron.

“You’re‌‌ incredibly persistent.”

“Hahaha…”⁠‍

“Something funny?”

“Of⁠‌ course.”

Sron⁠‌‌ kept laughing. Despite⁠‍ the losses, he‍‍ had managed to‍‌ keep Saned occupied.‍⁠

The⁠‍ assassins who had‍ gotten away would‍‌‍ surely kill Joshua.‌

“I’ve‌‍ won.”

Saned⁠ frowned.

“Are⁠ you an idiot?”⁠

“What?”‌‍

“You‌‌‍ think you’ve won‍ just because you’ve stalled me? Or‍ do you think‌‌ the royal guard‍ just sits around⁠ doing nothing?”

“The‌ royal guard isn’t—”‍‍

“Isn’t⁠ anything? Again?”

Sron’s‌ face hardened. He⁠‍‍ had never given⁠ the Briol royal⁠‍‍ guard any importance.‌ If he had⁠ underestimated the captain⁠⁠‍ himself, then the⁠⁠‍ rest went without‌‍‍ saying.

But‌ Saned had turned‍ out far stronger‍ than expected. And‌ there was no guarantee the others⁠ weren’t the same.⁠‌

At‍‌ that moment, a voice rang out.⁠⁠

“Ah…‍ my whole body⁠‍ aches…”

A guard appeared, covered⁠ in blood and‍‍ dragging the corpse‍‍‌ of an assassin.‍

“Captain,‍⁠ what are you doing here alone?”⁠‌

“And‍ the others?”

“They’re⁠⁠ handling it.”

“Looks‌ like they’re taking‍ it easy now⁠ that they have⁠⁠ experience.”

“Taking it easy? I always rank among‍⁠ the top in⁠‌ the vote for‌ friendliest guard. Last⁠ month, I was‌⁠‍ even chosen Guard⁠ of the Month.”

“I‍ see.”

The⁠‌ newcomer looked at Sron and the‍⁠ assassin, smiling.

“No⁠‍‌ need for introductions,⁠‌ but if you’re‌‍‍ curious… I’m Rosso of the royal‌⁠ guard. You can‍‌ call me Sir‍⁠ Rosso.”

Rosso‍ saluted by touching his brow and‌ drew his sword.

Sron‍ took a deep‍ breath. Everything had⁠‌ gone wrong.

It‌‍‌ was strange—he had‍‍ power close to‌⁠‍ the Ten Greats‌‍‌ thanks to black⁠ magic, and yet⁠ he had achieved⁠ nothing.

Had‌‍ there ever been⁠⁠ a time when‌‍‌ a single country‌⁠ had so many⁠ powerful warriors?

The‌ Empire had black‍⁠⁠ magic as a tool, but Briol didn’t even need‌ that.

“This⁠‌ makes no sense…”

“Right?”‌‌

One⁠ by one, more⁠‍ guards appeared, surrounding⁠⁠ him completely.

Sron clenched his teeth.‌ With Saned revealed‌ to be someone‍⁠ nearly on par⁠ with the Ten‌‌ Greats, he needed‌‌ to act fast.⁠ But it was⁠‌ already too late.⁠‍

He‌‌ understood his time‌ was up.

“It‌ doesn’t make sense,‌‌ does it?”

“Of⁠ course not.”

“…”‍‍

“Cat‍⁠ got your tongue?”‍

Sron‍⁠ had lost all‍ will to fight.‌ Even with his‌⁠ emotions suppressed, he‌‌ could think clearly‌‌ and accept that⁠ he stood no⁠ chance.

Only⁠ one question remained—why‍ hadn’t the Empire‌ foreseen this?

They⁠‍ had someone great⁠ behind them.

The⁠ master of black⁠⁠‍ magic, the one‍‌ who had given them a new‌‍ life—there was nothing‌ he didn’t know,‌‍ nothing he couldn’t‍ accomplish.

So‌ why had this⁠ happened?

“We’ve‌⁠ been through it‌⁠ too,” Saned said,‌‌‍ smiling.

“A‌⁠ few years ago, a young prince‍‌‍ suddenly came to⁠ the royal guard and demanded a duel. He whipped‌ that good-for-nothing Jared‍⁠ into shape and⁠⁠⁠ then defeated the crown prince’s champion of the Empire.⁠ After that, he‍ became so strong⁠‍ that even I,‍⁠ as captain, couldn’t‌‌ handle him. That’s when I understood—this⁠ makes no sense.”

Hasan⁠⁠ came into view,⁠‍‌ dragged and thrown‍⁠‍ to the ground⁠ by a sharp-eyed man who crossed‌ his arms.

Sron‍‍ fully accepted that⁠‌ everything had gone‍⁠ wrong.

“So⁠ this absurd situation⁠‍ started long ago.⁠ If you’re only‍ realizing it now,‍ it’s already too‌ late. Don’t you think?”

***‌

Cedric‍‌‍ was seated deep‌‍ within the imperial⁠ palace, eyes closed.‌‌

He‌⁠ was performing the‍ most dangerous ritual‍‌ since he had⁠‌ uncovered the secrets⁠ of black magic.⁠

At‌ first, he had planned to advance slowly, step by⁠‍ step.

But⁠‌ the situation had‌‍ begun to grow⁠ more urgent, and‍ he had no‍⁠ other choice.

His‍ plan was as‍ follows:

Seize⁠⁠‍ control of the⁠ Empire, mass-produce an⁠‌ army incapable of‌ feeling fear, and‌‌ rapidly expand the⁠⁠ territory.

In‌‌⁠ the process, indoctrinate‍ the entire imperial‌‌ population to complete‌‍ a system that would channel all‌ national resources toward‍‍ war.

With‍‌‍ that, he would‌‌ wage a war of conquest across‌ the entire continent,‍‍ using the blood‍‍⁠ spilled on the‍‌ battlefield, the repeated⁠ deaths, and the mounting despair as‌‍ sacrifices to perform‍⁠ a forbidden ritual.‌

But⁠‍ from the start,‌ something got in‌‍ the way.

As‌⁠ if he had⁠ foreseen it, his‌ younger brother had‍ rallied the rest‌‌ of the continent’s‍ nations into a single alliance.

They had built a joint defensive line,‌ and the Empire‍‌‌ had been unable‌ to cross it.⁠

It‍‍ wasn’t that they‌‌ had exhausted all⁠‍ their forces—there were‌‌ still plenty of‌‌ troops—but Cedric had‌ never imagined the‌ advance would be‌ so difficult.

The‍⁠ recent annihilation of the forces gathered‌⁠ at the eastern⁠ front had been⁠⁠ a critical blow.‌

That‌‍ was why, when‍ Ivar said he‌⁠ would send assassins⁠ to kill Joshua,‌ Cedric thought the‌⁠ situation might finally‍ turn around.

But—

“They‍‌‌ failed.”

Cedric‍ opened his eyes.‌

Ivar⁠ was speaking to him.

“I regret to inform‌‍ you that the⁠‍ assassination attempt failed.”⁠⁠

“Oh,⁠ yes?”

Cedric‌⁠ rose from his⁠‍‌ seat with a calm expression. The torches burning along⁠ the stone wall‌ flickered.

“How?”‌‌⁠

Even‌ as he asked,‍ Cedric was already⁠⁠⁠ imagining what had‍ happened.

If‌‍ Hasan and Sron,‍⁠ leading the assassins,⁠ had failed, then‍ most likely it⁠‌ was because of‍⁠ Bernard and Saned.‍

But⁠ were they really⁠ that strong?

Bernard‌‍ bore the nickname⁠ “Sword Demon,” but‍⁠ he wasn’t on‌ the level of‍ the Ten Greats.‌ Saned wasn’t either.‌⁠

Cedric‍‌ knew how to‍‌ assess people.

He‍‌ could identify their‍ talents, understand their‍‌⁠ innate nature, and‌‍‍ calculate exactly how⁠⁠⁠ far they could⁠⁠ go.

To‍ him, humans were basically like monkeys.‍ Still, a rare‍‍ few, combining talent‌⁠‌ and nature, could‍ reach a useful‍‍‌ level of skill.‍

Bernard‍‍ and Saned fell‍⁠ into an intermediate‍⁠‌ category.

Bernard⁠‌ did not have⁠ exceptional talent, but‍⁠‍ his innate obsession‍‍ with the sword had brought him‍ partial success.

Saned,‍‍‌ on the other‌⁠ hand, had great‌ talent, but his‍‌ weak character kept⁠‌ him from climbing⁠‌ very high.

That was why Cedric‌‍ had believed that‍ Hasan and Sron,‌‌ enhanced by black‌ magic, would be⁠‌ more than enough‌ to complete the‍ mission.

Even‌‌⁠ if they failed,‌‌ they should have‌‌‍ at least dealt‍⁠ a critical blow⁠ to Briol.

But‌⁠ they had not.‌

“The⁠⁠ king didn’t suffer‍ a single scratch.‌‌ The surviving assassins‌ were captured.”

“Was⁠‍ there someone else there? Someone like‌ Yuri or Moyongchan?”‌‌‍

“No.⁠⁠ Both are at‌⁠ the front.”

Cedric‌⁠ couldn’t understand it.‌⁠

His‌ calculations rarely failed.‌

It‌ wasn’t arrogance—he truly‌⁠⁠ could grasp everything‌‌ just by looking.‌⁠ Even human limits‍‍ rested in the‌‌ palm of his⁠⁠‌ hand.

That‍‍ was why this‌⁠ outcome was incomprehensible.‌ Without the aid‌ of black magic,‌ how could those‍‍‌ two have grown⁠‌‌ so strong?

Then,‌‍ suddenly, Cedric understood.‌

“Ah…”

There⁠‍ was one person‍ who always slipped‌ past his calculations.‍ The only human‌ he held in⁠ any esteem.

Yuri Briol.

His⁠⁠ younger brother.

“Hahaha…”⁠‌

Cedric⁠ let out a dry laugh.

“This‌ is bad…”

Cracks‌ were beginning to‍ appear in his‍ worldview.

The‌‍ future he had‍ envisioned did not⁠‍⁠ include Yuri Briol‍ as a decisive‌‍ factor—or rather, he‌ had considered him‌ only to the‍‌ extent of acknowledging⁠ that he could‍‍ influence his surroundings‍‍‍ a little.

He‌‍‌ had underestimated him.

The‌ unpredictability of his‌‍‍ beloved younger brother,‌‌ Cedric had treated‍⁠ as a mere‍ pastime.

“Yuri…‌ you really…”

Now‍‍ he understood.

He⁠⁠ had suspected it‍‍⁠ before, but now‌‌ he was certain.‌‍⁠

Yuri‍‍ Briol.

The⁠ people whose lives⁠ crossed with his⁠‌⁠ began to change⁠‍⁠ from the very⁠‌ core.

Like⁠ the flap of‌ a butterfly’s wings‌‍ becoming a great‍⁠ typhoon, Yuri completely⁠‌⁠ transformed those around⁠ him.

And⁠‍⁠ that process had⁠‌‍ been underway for⁠‌ a long time.‍

“Yuri,‍‍ you possessed something‌ far more powerful‌⁠ than black magic…”‍

Cedric‍ had always thought‍ Yuri was a gift life had⁠‌ given him to⁠ entertain his otherwise‍‍ boring existence.

But‍‍ now he realized⁠‌‌ that he was‌‌⁠ not a gift—he⁠ was something far‌ more dangerous.