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Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince Chapter 275: The Right Path (2)

Chapter 275: The Right Path (2)

“It​ seems the eastern⁠ front cost them​ many troops, but​‍ I didn’t expect‌​ them to still‌ have this many⁠⁠ soldiers.”

“That‌⁠​ means the defense​ of the imperial⁠‍ capital is neglected.”​⁠‍

“If​​ that’s the case,⁠⁠⁠ do we really‌ need to fight‌⁠ here? Maybe it⁠ would be better​ to attack the​ imperial capital while​⁠‌ the Empire is⁠‍ distracted. In terms⁠‍ of importance and‍ risk, in both‍‌ aspects… suddenly going⁠​ to Zveta could‍ be a mistake‍ on Briol’s part…”​

“Hey,‌‌ you.”

Jose,​ now indisputably the‌​ strongest in Brusen,⁠ looked at his‌​ lieutenant.

“What​‍⁠ are you saying?”⁠‍​

“Excuse‌‍ me?”

“The⁠​ one who gave⁠‍ the order to‍ advance was His‌‍‍ Highness Yuri. None‍⁠‌ other than Yuri‍‌ Briol, understand?”

The​ lieutenant looked at⁠​‌ him with a puzzled expression. Jose,‍⁠‍ chest out, continued.​⁠⁠

“Then‍​ there’s no reason‍ to doubt. Something​‌‌ is happening in​ Zveta, something much‌⁠‌ more important than⁠ attacking the capital.⁠​ And that’s enough.”​‌‍

“Even‌‌‌ so…”

The‍‍‌ lieutenant pointed to⁠ the defensive line​‌ stretching far into⁠ the distance, so⁠‍ long the horizon⁠ couldn’t be seen.⁠‍‍ The imperial army‍‍ was deployed without⁠⁠⁠ leaving any gaps.⁠

“Suddenly‍⁠ changing course to‌⁠​ charge against that⁠​ huge number of‌ troops… doesn’t seem‍ like the best​​ choice. We should⁠ attack the capital,‌​ not a city‌‌ like Zveta…”

“Shut‍⁠ up!”

Jose​‌ smacked him on‌⁠ the back.

“You,​‌ have you ever‌‌ dealt with His​ Highness Yuri?”

“No,​‍‍ but…”

“Then⁠‍‍ shut up. I’ve‌​⁠ lived and fought​⁠ alongside him, and‌‌ I know how‌‍‍ incredible he is.‌ Do you think⁠ it’s common for‍‌ Jose Aratur to‌ acknowledge another man?”⁠⁠

“No,⁠ almost never.”

“Exactly.”‍

The⁠ lieutenant knew Jose‍ rarely acknowledged anyone.‌ It was said​​ he trained to‍ be the strongest‌‍​ simply because he‌ couldn’t stand seeing‍⁠‍ mediocrities strut around.‌‌

Jose‌ went on.

“If⁠​ he were someone​‍ who did foolish‍⁠ things, I’d have‍ already been displeased‌ and would’ve gone​​ to flip Briol​⁠ over myself. With⁠​‍ sword in hand,‍⁠ prince or not.”⁠‌‌

“I​⁠ see…”

“Of‌ course, I would​‍‍ have lost.”

“Excuse‍ me?”

“His⁠​⁠ Highness is stronger‌ than me.”

“Really?”‍‌‍

It⁠‍⁠ was the first‍⁠‌ time he had​‍ heard such a thing. He knew​⁠ Yuri Briol had⁠ entered the Ten‍⁠‌ Greats after his⁠‍ father, that in​​ every war he‌ did incredible things,⁠‍ and that he‍‌​ had recently defeated⁠​ the Black Knight.⁠ But he had‍ always thought there‍‌​ was some exaggeration.‍⁠ However, for a monster like Jose⁠​ to admit Yuri‍ was stronger…

“Yes.”⁠

Jose‌‌ nodded naturally.

“That‌ day, when we‍​ fought in front​​​ of the Sea⁠​ of Orphen, we‌‌​ ended in a draw. So now​​ His Highness is⁠‍⁠ without a doubt‌ stronger than me.‌‍‍ Now I’m the‌​⁠ one chasing him.”​⁠‍

“Hard‍​ to believe.”

“For⁠‌‍ me too.”

Jose‌ let out a hearty laugh.

“Do⁠ you know how⁠​‍ exciting it is​​⁠ to have someone​ worthy of being​​ your target? In‌ Brusen, there was‍‍‍ no one like​‍‍ that, so I decided to be‌‍⁠ the strongest myself.‌‌ But now there⁠​ is a man‍⁠‌ named Yuri Briol.‌ And that makes​⁠ me very happy.”‌⁠‌

“It⁠‌ seems you hold‍ him in high‍​ regard.”

“Of‌ course.”

In​​‍ the middle of‌⁠ the conversation, a war horn sounded.‍

It​‌ was the signal​‌‍ to begin.

The​ first to advance‍‍ were Briol’s troops.⁠‌‍ Brusen, who was​⁠‍ to advance after,‍ waited tensely. Jose‍‍ pointed toward Briol’s​⁠ front and shouted.‌​⁠

“Look.‌⁠ I don’t need‌ to see to⁠‍⁠ know who’s there,⁠​‌ leading the charge‌​‍ and facing the⁠​‌ enemy first.”

“Ah…”⁠

Running⁠‍⁠ several steps ahead‍‍‌ of everyone was​ Prince Yuri Briol.‌‌​ He charged straight⁠ toward the enemy.‍‍

“The​ noblest one, taking‍​‍ on the most​⁠‍ dangerous task. That’s⁠‌​ why so many⁠ gather around him.”​

Just​‌‍ before Briol’s forces⁠ clashed with the​‌ imperial line, a light shone in‍⁠⁠ the sky.

“And⁠‍‍ I’m one of​​ them.”

The‍‌​ luminous mass grew‍​⁠ and split into​ dozens of beams‍ that fell like⁠ meteors. Each impact‌⁠ caused huge explosions,‍‍⁠ shaking the earth.​​‍

Brusen’s‌ troops instinctively crouched‌‍ down.

“T-this​ is the first​‌​ time I’ve seen​‍​ magic in war!​ Does it bypass⁠​⁠ Dispel?”

“Of‌ course! The Great‍‌ Archmage Inariel is​​​ with His Highness.”⁠

“Incredible.”​‌‍

“Right?”​

“Yes.”‍

“His‌ Highness always surprises.⁠‌ But I’m not​⁠​ going to remain‍‍ just another who⁠​⁠ admires him from‍‌ afar. Jose Aratur⁠⁠ will be a comrade on equal⁠‌‌ footing, able to‌‍⁠ lend him his‌ shoulder when needed.”‌​

Once​​ Briol’s charge was​‌ finished, it was​‌ Brusen’s turn.

Jose⁠​ drew his sword‌‍‍ and rushed to‌‍​ the front. It‌ wasn’t something planned.​‌

All⁠‍ the soldiers saw⁠⁠ his back as‌ he launched himself‌⁠ alone at the​ imperial line.

“Brusen!”‌

His​⁠ voice dominated the‌⁠⁠ roar of the⁠‍‍ battlefield.

“Are‍ you going to⁠⁠​ be Briol’s sidekicks?”​

Jose​‌ roared.

“Attack‌⁠ as Brusen!”

The‍​⁠ cry for the‍ charge rang out,‍​⁠ and as its‍​ echo faded, the​⁠ cheers of Brusen’s‌ army replaced it,‌‌⁠ rising to the​​‍ sky.

“Charge!”​

Brusen’s​​ army slammed into‌⁠‍ the imperial defense.​⁠ Some died, others‍‌ killed.

Spears‌ and swords clashed,‌ and blood sprayed‍⁠ into the air.‍‍‌

Then‌‌ the Holy Kingdom‍ and Liberta advanced,​ while the Confederation‌‌‌ of Small Kingdoms⁠⁠ rained arrows on​ the enemy.

After​⁠ the initial clash,‌‍ a balance of‍ forces settled in.​‍‌ Then, in the‍ center of the‌​​ imperial army, a wave of sword‍ energy exploded.

“I⁠​​ am Jose Aratur!”⁠​⁠

Jose⁠ had hurled himself​‍ into the enemy’s‌‍‍ heart like a lion. The imperials‍‍ surrounded him, but‌ none could stop​⁠ him.

Each‌​ time he swung‌‌‌ his sword, the​⁠​ cutting energy lashed​ like a whip,‍ tearing enemies apart.​⁠‍

“Hahahahaha!”‍‌

He​ looked around. At​​​ first, he thought⁠ the imperial soldiers⁠‍​ showed no expressions,⁠⁠ which bored him.‌ But seeing them⁠⁠​ back away with​​‍ tense faces intrigued‌⁠ him.

“Imperial​ scum! Bring me‌ someone who can‍ stop me!”

It​​ wasn’t long before​ a knight in​ black armor appeared.‍​⁠ Jose immediately felt‌​​ he was a commander, and he⁠‌‌ even sensed a strange aura, as‍ if he had‌‍‌ been altered by⁠‌ black magic.

This​ promised a good​ fight.

Flexing‍⁠ his muscles, Jose⁠​‌ asked.

“I⁠ am Jose Aratur⁠ of Brusen. Your‌ name?”

The⁠‌⁠ other did not​ answer.

Jose‍ frowned.

“Imperial‌ bastards have no⁠‌ manners! Before fighting,‍ it is customary‍‌‌ among knights to‍⁠‌ give your name.⁠ Imperial rats!”

Jose‍ swung his sword.‌ After exchanging several‍‍‍ blows, the imperial⁠‍⁠ knight retreated.

Soon,‌ more knights appeared‍⁠‌ to surround him⁠ and respond with⁠ a combined attack.‍

“You‌‌‍ think just because‌ you’re several, things⁠⁠​ will change?”

Ignoring‌ them, Jose looked​‌‌ up.

The⁠‌ entire camp of​ the imperial army⁠ came into his​ field of vision.‌‍⁠ It was an‌ overwhelming number of‌⁠⁠ troops.

It‌⁠ seemed this would⁠ be a long⁠​ fight.

“It’s⁠‌‌ going to be‍ a long day.”⁠‍

Spinning​ around, he deflected‍ the sword of​ the knight coming‍‌⁠ up behind him,‌⁠​ then grabbed him⁠ by the neck‍ and slammed him⁠‍ to the ground.⁠

The⁠⁠‌ knight’s skull shattered,⁠‍ and blood along⁠‌ with brain matter⁠ spread across the‌‍​ ground.

Straightening⁠​ again, Jose said:⁠

“Good.‍ Today I’ll kill‌‍ more than His‍ Highness.”

***‍⁠

While‍ Jose was committed‍ to fighting with⁠ everything he had,⁠‌ Yuri was immersed‌‌ in a chaotic​‍ battle against the​⁠ imperial army.

He​ no longer counted‌ the number of​​ enemies he had⁠‍‌ killed; after so⁠‍‌ many, at some⁠ point he had⁠⁠ lost track.

He‌‍‌ had probably already⁠​ surpassed three digits.​‍

“There‍​⁠ are really so⁠ many.”

Each​ time he swung⁠ his sword as⁠⁠⁠ if harvesting, a head went flying,‌‌​ but even so,⁠‌⁠ the number of‌‌‍ enemies did not‍⁠ decrease.

Moreover,‍ among them appeared‌ such strange creatures‌ that they could‌ not even be‌⁠⁠ considered human, attacking‍ without cease.

He​‍ could not tell​​‌ how many more⁠⁠‍ remained waiting.

He‌​⁠ could endure it,‌‌⁠ but the other‍‌​ soldiers would eventually‍ tire. He needed​ to end the‍ battle before that​‍​ happened.

“With‍​ this, the Imperial‍‌ Palace must be‌‍⁠ empty.”

The⁠⁠ fact that there​ were so many‌ troops meant, on‌ the other hand,⁠⁠ that almost no‍ defenders remained in⁠‌ the Imperial Palace.‌

What​ was Cedric planning‌‍​ to do in‍⁠⁠ Zveta?

Yuri⁠ looked up.

“Lord​‌ Inariel!”

He⁠​ shouted toward Briol’s⁠‌​ forces far in​‌⁠ the rear, hoping‍‌ his voice would‌ carry.

“Please,‌‌​ launch another one!”​

Of⁠ course, there was‍‍⁠ no reply.

After​ killing three more‍⁠ just in case,⁠ he looked back‌‍ to the sky,⁠​⁠ but saw no‌‍ trace of fireballs​ or masses of⁠​⁠ light.

“Lord⁠ Inariel!”

He​‍‌ killed another five.​ Still, there was⁠ no reaction.

“Hey!⁠ Inariel! Are you⁠​​ sleeping?”

Then,‍ as if in‍⁠​ answer to his​⁠‍ shout, something began‍ to form in‌ the sky. They‍⁠ were dense black‍‍​ clouds.

[I​‌ am not sleeping.]‌

“Huh?”‌​

Suddenly,‍​ he heard a voice so close‌⁠ it startled him.⁠​ It was as⁠ if Inariel were‌ whispering in his⁠ ear.

“Where‌ are you?”

[In‌ the rear. I am transmitting my⁠‌‌ voice through magic.]​

“You⁠​ should be saving‍​ mana to launch‌ fireballs, not using‌‌⁠ it for this.⁠ What’s with the‍⁠‍ black clouds?”

[Stop⁠‍‍ with the nonsense.]​‌⁠

Yuri​ smiled faintly, imagining‌‌​ Inariel’s scowling face.⁠‍

[Black‍​​ magic will soon⁠‌‌ be cast.]

“Black​‍ magic?”

Yuri‍ closed and reopened​​‍ his eyes.

In‌​⁠ his vision, within‍​ the Mental Domain,‌ black silhouettes intertwined‍‌⁠ chaotically appeared.

[If​​ we let it‌​ be, we will‌‌ lose.]

“Lose?”‌⁠‌

[Even​‌⁠ if we win,‌ the casualties will‌‍⁠ be enormous.]

“What​⁠ do we do?”‍

[At‍‍ the moment it‍​ is activated, I will use the⁠​‌ flow to steal⁠​‍ the principle of‍‍ that spell.]

“Huh?”‍​

[There‍ will be confusion,​⁠ so direct things⁠⁠​ well. And do‍⁠⁠ not be frightened.]‍‍

“What‍ kind of magic⁠⁠ is it?”

[Handle​‌ the situation as⁠‍ best you can.⁠‍⁠ It’s up to​⁠ you.]

Inariel’s⁠ voice cut off.‌‍⁠ Yuri frowned.

“No,‌ he should at‌⁠⁠ least tell me⁠‍ what it is…”‍

It​‌⁠ was at that⁠​ moment that he‌⁠ felt his heart‍ pound.

The‍⁠​ dark energy he‍‍⁠ had seen before‍ began to stain‍‌​ the entire battlefield.‍‍

Darkness‌​⁠ rose from the‌⁠​ ground.

“This…”‍

From⁠⁠⁠ below, a voice‌‍‍ transcending reality whispered.‍ Yuri had seen⁠‌ something like it‌​​ before.

Something​ grabbed his ankle.‍‌‍

“This​ is…”

A dead man had‌⁠​ risen and was​⁠⁠ clutching his leg.‍ The corpses of‍ the imperial army⁠​ that had lain​⁠ on the ground‌⁠ were getting up‍‌ one by one.⁠‌​

Wielding⁠‌‍ broken weapons and⁠‌ moving their shattered⁠​⁠ bodies, they rushed⁠‍ at the living.​‌

Yuri​‍‍ crushed the head⁠‍ of a dead‌ imperial soldier.

“This,‌ this…”

With‌‍ corpses rising and‍⁠‍ attacking, the anti-imperial‍‌‍ coalition forces faltered​​‌ instantly.

Even​ the knights left⁠ openings, unable to‍‍‌ react.

The​​​ undead brought down‌ a fallen knight‍​​ and began to‌‍​ bite into his⁠‍⁠ body. It was⁠ a spectacle worthy‍ of a ravenous‌‍ hell.

“Damn‌⁠ it.”

Yuri‍ looked up at​‌‌ the sky.

It‌​‍ seemed Inariel had‌⁠ foreseen this would⁠ happen. Then, there⁠ must have been‍​⁠ a reason for‍‌ him to summon​⁠ those black clouds.​

Suddenly,‌‌ a raindrop brushed⁠ his cheek.

He‌ wiped it away​⁠⁠ with his hand.‍​⁠

“Rain.”⁠​

It​‍ began to rain.‌

The‌​ dark energy that​ raised the dead‍⁠ began to dilute.‌‌‍

The‌⁠​ black mist reaching​‌‌ his ankles was​‌ soaked and sank‍⁠ into the ground.‍

“No⁠‍​ way…”

But​ the corpses did⁠​ not fall back‌ down. Yuri felt​ disappointed.

“What?⁠‍‌ It just rains⁠⁠ and nothing hap—”‍

He​ did not finish​ the sentence.

Something⁠ was rising from‍‌‌ the ground again.⁠​⁠ At first, he⁠‍ thought they were​ more enemies, but‍‍ on closer look,‍​ they were not.‍‍

They‌​‌ were allies.

Yuri⁠‍‌ let out an‍‍ incredulous laugh.

“Well…”⁠

If‌​ the black magic⁠‍⁠ had raised the‌‍⁠ dead of the‍⁠ imperial army,
Inariel’s rain had⁠‍‌ absorbed that energy‌​ and done the‌‍ same with fallen‍⁠ allies.

At‌ his side, a soldier who had​ been dead stood⁠ up. His eyes​‌⁠ looked vacant, but⁠‍⁠ upon closer inspection,⁠​ deep within there‌ was a spark.‌

The⁠ dead soldier looked‍ at Yuri.

“…”​

For⁠⁠ the dead to‍ rise was something​‍ that should not​ happen. The deceased​ should be granted⁠​​ rest.

But​​​ the natural order​‍‌ had already been‍⁠ reversed and fate​ distorted. If the‌​⁠ world was upside⁠‍ down, what was‍‌ the right path‍⁠‍ to restore order?​

Yuri​ extended his hand.‍⁠‌

“Hey,​ Noah.”

It‌ was a soldier‍‌‍ he knew well.‌​‌

When‌‌ he had been​‍ with him in⁠‌ Bezos, he had‌ been a clueless⁠‌⁠ rookie, but now​ he looked like‌⁠‌ a veteran.

“You‌​ died too soon.”‍

Noah‌⁠⁠ remained still.

Yuri‍⁠ grabbed him by‍ the nape and‌ pulled him close,⁠ embracing him.

“I’m‍ sorry. Help me‌ once more. Rest‍ afterward.”

After​ patting him on‌ the back, Yuri⁠ let him go.‍‍ When he had‌​‌ him in his‌ arms, Noah had⁠‌‌ nodded once.

With⁠‌⁠ his battered body,‍‌‍ Noah advanced toward​‌ the enemy again.‌ His silhouette faded⁠⁠‌ into the rain.‍​

Yuri​ raised his head.​⁠

His⁠​‍ gaze turned cold.⁠⁠‍

Guilty‍ spun in his‌‌‌ hand and rainwater‍​‍ slid down the​ blade. His eyes​​ swept through the⁠ enemy ranks until‌⁠ they stopped at​‍ one point.

“Found⁠ you.”

Among⁠ the imperial troops,‌ he fleetingly saw​⁠⁠ the figure of‌ a black magic‍⁠‍ wizard in a robe.

He​ vanished in an‍ instant, but it⁠ was enough.

Yuri‍‌⁠ stomped the ground.​‍

His‍‍ silhouette disappeared.

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