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Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince Chapter 276: The Right Path (3)

Chapter 276: The Right Path (3)

Yuri⁠‌ had lived through‌​ many wars in​ his past life,​​ but he had​⁠⁠ never witnessed a scene as atrocious‍​ as this.

The⁠​‌ dead fighting against‌‍⁠ the dead.

In⁠ the world of​ the living, something⁠​⁠ like this should‌​​ not exist.

The‍‌ resurrected corpses did⁠‍ not stop even⁠ when their bodies‍ were destroyed, and‌⁠‌ they continued wielding‍​⁠ their weapons until⁠‍ they no longer​‍⁠ had any functional‍‌ part to move.‍

Seeing⁠⁠ two soldiers without⁠​⁠ arms biting each‍​ other, Yuri spat‌​ a curse.

“Damn‍​ this world.”

Rage‌‌‍ rose to his⁠​⁠ throat.

That⁠‌ was why, the‍ moment he caught‌‌​ sight of the⁠‌‍ necromancer hidden in‍‍⁠ the rear of‍ the imperial army,⁠ he hurled himself​ at him.

He​‌ tore through and⁠‌‍ killed everything that​⁠ stood in his​‍ way. His charge​ had never been‌‌⁠ so fierce.

Nameless‌​​ monsters created by‍⁠​ the Empire lined‍ up to block‍ him.

They‍⁠ were human, but‍⁠ instead of arms⁠ they had thick⁠ tentacles tipped with‍ sharp spikes that‍‌ lashed toward him‌‍​ like the sting‌ of a scorpion.‌​⁠

It​​‍ wasn’t even worth‌​ feeling disgust. He⁠​ cut them all‌ down.

After⁠‌‌ driving his sword‍ into an enemy’s​ face and raising​ it, the split‌‍ brain scattered into‍ the air.

He​‌ stepped on that‌⁠ body to crush⁠‌ it and spun,‌​ unleashing a whirlwind​​‌ of cutting energy‍ that repeated endlessly.‌⁠

The​ enemies caught in​‍ the vortex were​‌ reduced to minced​ meat.

Within​ his range, nothing‍‍ remained that kept⁠​‌ its original form.⁠‌

The​‍‍ dozens of beams​‍ of cutting energy​​‌ divided everything into‍⁠‌ fragments so small​​ that not a single body was‌⁠‍ left that could​​ rise again.

Wherever‍‌ Yuri passed, enormous​ craters remained.

“Don’t‌ get in my‍ way.”

The⁠⁠⁠ necromancer, realizing he‍‍‍ was the target,⁠ turned and fled.​‌​

Yuri​ accelerated.

After‍ blowing the head‌ off a knight⁠​‍ who blocked his‌‍ path, he used​​ the shoulder of​ a decapitated corpse‍⁠⁠ as a foothold‍‍ and leapt.

As​‌ he rose, he‍ looked down at‌⁠⁠ the battlefield from‌‍‌ above. The humans⁠​ fighting desperately looked⁠ like swarms of‌‌‍ ants.

But​‌​ they were not‌ ants. They were‍‍‌ humans like him.‌⁠ Each one was​‌‌ a unique being,‍‌ with their own‌ story.

He​​ didn’t know from‌‍​ what height Cedric‌ looked down on‍ the world, but​⁠ Yuri, who lived‍ at the same​‍ level as these⁠‍ people, never intended‍‍‌ to support his‍ absurd ideals.

Their​⁠‌ joys, angers, sorrows,​‌⁠ and pleasures were‍​​ among those people.⁠

That⁠‍ was why, just⁠‌ like the necromancer‍​⁠ fleeing before his​⁠‌ eyes, Cedric too​‍‌ would end up⁠ dying by his‌ hand.

He‌⁠‍ was willing to⁠‌ risk his life⁠ to make it​⁠​ happen.

“And‌‌​ if I don’t‍‌⁠ succeed, I’ll gladly‌⁠⁠ die.”

Murmuring,⁠ Yuri dove like​ a hawk upon‌‌‌ its prey.

The‌‍ power of chaos⁠ he had awakened‍ tangled the laws‍‌⁠ of the world‍‍ and produced the‌​⁠ result he desired.‍

His‌⁠ body hurtled toward⁠​⁠ the necromancer, propelled‍ by an inexplicable‍​‍ physical force that​ launched him from⁠ the air like‌‍​ a projectile.

He​⁠​ was so fast⁠ that the enemy‌​ had no time⁠‌⁠ to react.

“Kuek!”​‌

With‌​ a repulsive sound,​‍​ the necromancer was⁠‍ pierced through the​ back.

Yuri⁠ pulled Guilty free​​ and drove it​ in again. He‍‌⁠ repeated this about⁠ five times, until​‌‍ the necromancer collapsed​⁠⁠ to the ground,‍​ spewing blood in‍‍⁠ torrents.

As⁠ was fitting for⁠‌ someone corrupted by‌ black magic, he‍⁠‌ did not die‌​‌ immediately despite sustaining‌​ multiple mortal wounds.‌

“Wait,‍⁠‍ w–wait…”

The​ necromancer tried to‌ speak, but Yuri​​⁠ had no intention‍‌ of listening.

He‌‍⁠ crushed the man’s‍ head under his⁠ foot until it‌ burst, then stomped​ on the fragments‌ of the skull‌‍‍ until they were⁠ pulverized.

He⁠⁠‍ spat, lifting his‍ gaze again.

Now‍ he was in​‌ the very heart‍‌⁠ of the imperial​⁠​ army.

Countless‍‌ eyes focused on‍‍‍ him. Dozens of‍ imperial knights of​ commander rank, in‌⁠​ black armor, were⁠ closing in.

Behind‍‌ them, monsters five​⁠ times larger than​ a man dragged‌ their tentacles.

Further​ back came imperial​ knights with swords⁠‍‍ in hand, and⁠ behind them, soldiers‌‍ armed with spears⁠⁠ and knives, advancing‌‍⁠ toward him.

There⁠‌ were hundreds—perhaps thousands.‍‍​

It⁠​ was no surprise.‍⁠ To kill the‌‌‌ necromancer, he had‍⁠ leapt a great​​ distance, landing directly‍‌​ in the zone‌ where the Empire’s‌‍ elite were waiting.​

Even‌⁠⁠ though they were‌⁠‌ emotionless creatures created​‌ by black magic,‌⁠ their murderous intent‍​‍ was clear.

Yuri‍ smiled.

“Hahaha…”⁠⁠

A shiver ran through​​‌ his body.

For‌ his enemies to‍ return a hatred​‌‌ as pure as​​ the one he​ bore them was‌‌‍ magnificent.

If⁠⁠ he had lost,⁠‍ they too would⁠​ lose.

And‍ he wouldn’t stop‍⁠ there—he would strip​ them of everything,‌‍ until they couldn’t‍ even keep their⁠ misery, and reduce⁠ them to dust,‍‍ as if they‌‍​ had never existed.​‌‌

The‌⁠ exhilaration of revenge‍‌ flowed into Guilty’s‌‍‍ blade, which hummed‍ as it released‌‍‍ a long wave‌ of cutting force.⁠​​

He​‌ didn’t think about⁠‍ operating his mana‍ method or about‍‍‍ invoking the Cut⁠​ of the soul⁠‌ and the heart‍​⁠ from his core.‍‌‍

Everything​ moved on its⁠⁠ own.

He⁠⁠ felt he could​ do anything. No—that‌⁠ wasn’t the right​ expression.

Lightly⁠ gripping Guilty, Yuri‌ smiled.

His‍‍‍ omnipotence was limited​ exclusively to the⁠​‍ act of killing.⁠⁠ So it wasn’t‍‌​ that he could​ do anything—it was‌ that he could‍ kill anyone.

If‍​‍ only Cedric were⁠ right in front‍⁠ of him.

“Cedric!”‌‌

He⁠‍​ shouted his name‌⁠‍ with all his​​ strength.

It‍⁠ didn’t matter if‍⁠​ he heard it​ or not. The⁠‌​ whole world heard⁠​⁠ his roar, and​ that was enough.​

Now​​⁠ that Cedric had‍ touched black magic,‍ heaven and earth‌​‍ were his allies.‍​

The‍​ only thing that⁠​ could stand in‌‍​ his way was​‍ himself.

Yuri​‍‌ exhaled the air‌‍‌ from his lungs.⁠

“I​‍‍ will kill you​‍ without fail!”

The‌ clouds scattered.

The​ earth trembled.

The‌‍ blade cut the‍ enemy.

Yuri⁠ struck and struck‍‍ again at those‌‌‍ who approached. Heads​‌ tilted, bodies bore‌ their cuts.

The‌​​ red blood splashed⁠⁠ into his sight,⁠ but he did‍​ not close his‌​ eyes—he had too⁠‍​ much to do.​

He​ counted the enemies‌​⁠ that entered his⁠‌‌ field of vision​⁠​ and calculated the⁠ fastest route to‍​ drive his sword‌‌‌ into them, eliminating‍⁠‌ any unnecessary movement.⁠​‌

He​⁠ held his breath.‍

One.‌

Two.‍‍

Three,‌ four, five.

Six,​⁠ seven, eight, nine,‍‌‌ ten, eleven.

Twelve,‌⁠ thirteen, fourteen, fifteen.​‌‍

His‍ muscles burned at‌‍​ their peak. The‌​ vessels in his⁠⁠‌ eyes burst. His‌​‌ vision blurred, his‍​⁠ body distorted, but‍‌ he did not​ stop.

Even​ his consciousness went⁠​ out.

His⁠‍‍ body became a biological machine dedicated‌‍ solely to killing​ enemies, like an​‍ ancient hunter mechanically‍‍‍ massacring orcs, stabbing​​ again and again​​​ into the vital​⁠ points of every‌‍‍ living being around‍⁠ him.

At​⁠ some point, his‍‌ consciousness returned. Then‍ he realized his‌​​ lips were moving.‌⁠‌

“Two‍⁠‍ hundred twenty-two… two​ hundred twenty-three… two​⁠⁠ hundred twenty-four…”

He‌ didn’t know how​​ much time had​‌ passed.

Realizing⁠ he had pushed‌​ his body to‌⁠⁠ its limit, Yuri‍ restarted his halted‌ lungs.

As⁠​ they filled with​​‌ air, his body​‍⁠ halted momentarily. Vapor‌ like smoke escaped​​ from his mouth.‍⁠‌

Standing​‌ in place, Yuri‌‍ murmured.

“Two‍ hundred twenty-four.”

For⁠⁠ a result achieved​‍ in so little⁠​ time, it wasn’t​‍‌ bad. Now the​​ enemies did not‍⁠ dare to approach​‌ within a certain‍​‍ distance.

If⁠​ they hadn’t felt‌ fear and had‍ kept attacking, the​ number would have⁠⁠ been much higher.⁠⁠

Yuri‍ clicked his tongue‌​​ and reassured the⁠‌‌ prey keeping their‌​⁠ distance.

“Don’t‌‌ be so afraid.⁠‌ This will be‍‌ over soon. Stay‌‍ there.”

It‌​‌ didn’t take long‌ before he moved‍ his body again.‌‌

The‍ Cut of the⁠‍⁠ soul and the⁠‌ heart was already‍‍​ part of him,⁠‍⁠ and for that​‌ reason, the power⁠‍‍ of chaos flowed​‌ through his veins⁠ like blood.

Every⁠‌ time Yuri took‌‍‍ a step, the‍⁠⁠ laws of the‍ world bent.

“Come‍​​ on, good boy.”⁠

He‌ began counting again​ from where he‌‍ had left off.​⁠ The last number‌ had been two‌⁠ hundred twenty-four.

So,‌ from now on—​​‌

“Two​⁠‍ hundred fifty-five.”

The‌‍ fierce whirlwind Yuri‌‌ unleashed destroyed thirty​ enemies in an⁠​ instant. He was⁠‌​ no longer a mere human.

He​​ was a disaster.⁠

“You’re‌​ insane.”

In‌ the middle of⁠‌ the slaughter, he‍​​ suddenly heard a deep voice. Turning,⁠‌⁠ he saw a face that felt‍ very familiar.

The​ man spoke.

“You…​ what happened to‍⁠ you?”

It⁠⁠‌ was a knight⁠​ in black armor.‍‍⁠ Although all imperials‌​⁠ looked alike, the‌‌‌ gaze showing through‌‍‌ the helmet was⁠‌ familiar to him.​‌

Yuri⁠‍ remembered his name.⁠‍

“Two​​ hundred fifty-five?”

“What?”​

“Ah,⁠ my mistake. Long‌‍ time no see,‍⁠⁠ Wayne.”

They‌‌‌ could be considered​ comrades who had‍‌‌ fought together in‌​ the allied army.‌‌ His rank was‍‌ captain of the​ 3rd division of‌ imperial knights, and‌‍⁠ he used a devastating fencing style.‌

It‍⁠ was the first‌‌ time they had‍​ met since the​ alliance war ended.‍​ Seeing him, Yuri‌ recalled Ragnar and‌‌​ Graham, who were⁠ no longer in‌⁠ this world.

Wayne​‍​ spoke in bewilderment.​⁠‌

“What‌‌​ the hell happened‌⁠⁠ for you to⁠‌‍ end up like​‍ this…?”

“Like​ what?”

“Turned⁠‌ into a monster.”‍​​

“Monster?”‍‍‌

Yuri​‌ let out a laugh.

“Well,⁠ monster? You’re not‍‌ one to talk.”‌⁠⁠

He‌⁠‍ called him a monster, but Wayne‍​‍ himself no longer‌ looked human, with‍‍ his hardened skin‍ and several tentacles‍⁠ sprouting from his​ back.

“Still,⁠ it’s different.”

“What’s⁠‌ different?”

“I…”‌

Among​⁠ the imperial knights⁠‍​ Yuri had seen,⁠⁠ Wayne was one​​ of the few‍​​ who still retained⁠‌‍ some sanity, so⁠‍​ they could converse.‌‌⁠

“I‍ got here thanks⁠⁠ to the help​‌ of black magic,‌⁠ but you—how the‍ hell did you‍‍ get that strong?⁠ What did you⁠⁠ do to become​ like this? You‌‌ really are a true monster…”

“You’re​​​ an idiot.”

Yuri​‌ began walking toward‍‌ him, and Wayne‍​ stepped back.

Meanwhile,‍‌ several imperial soldiers‍​‌ rushed at Yuri.⁠ They didn’t even⁠​‍ manage to get⁠​ close before being‍ caught by his​ sword aura and‌‌⁠ dying.

Shaking​​ Guilty free of​‍ blood, Yuri said.‍‍

“Wayne,‍ do you like‌⁠‍ hunting?”

“What?”​⁠

“Or⁠‌ do you know‍​​ anything about ecology?”​⁠

“What⁠⁠ are you talking‍​‍ about?”

“Let’s‌‌‌ suppose that suddenly⁠​⁠ the wild boar⁠​ population in the‌‌ mountains increases because‍​ someone released them‌ and gave them​ plenty of food⁠​⁠ to reproduce. Later,​‌ the food runs⁠‌ scarce, and they​​ start coming down‌‌​ to the villages,‌​ destroying fields and​‍ causing havoc.”

“What​‍ are you talking​‌‌ about?”

“What‌⁠‌ happens next? Do⁠​​ the mountain and‌‌ the fields just‍ end up ruined,‍‌ and that’s the⁠‌​ end of it?”‌⁠

Yuri⁠ stopped, calculating the‍‌‍ distance between him‍‌‌ and Wayne. With⁠ two strikes of‍​ Guilty, he could‍​ probably kill him.‌‌‌

“No.”​⁠

His‌ figure blurred.

Once.​

And‍⁠ twice.

Yuri‌ cut Wayne across‌‍ the waist.

His⁠ torso and legs‌⁠ spun in opposite​ directions as they‍ fell from the⁠ sky.

His⁠ face showed disbelief.‌‍

“Then​ the predators that‌⁠ hunt wild boar‍‍ increase. If there​‍⁠ are more boars,​​⁠ then for the​​⁠ tigers that feed‌‍​ on them, good⁠‌ times also come.⁠⁠ There’s prey in⁠‌ abundance, you understand?”⁠​

“No​‍ way…”

“You⁠‍ people are like⁠‌ those boars.”

Wayne‍​ did not die‍ immediately.

From⁠​ the wound, tentacles​‍‌ emerged and crawled⁠​ along the ground⁠‍ until they rejoined‍ his body.

It​ was a repulsive‍⁠ sight.

Yuri​​‌ launched himself at‌‌​ him again and‌⁠ cut him. This‍ time he split‍​ him into four‌‍‍ pieces.

While⁠⁠ the pieces—one torso​⁠ with an arm,‌‌‌ another with a leg—rolled along the‌‍​ ground, Yuri kicked‌ them and said.‍‍⁠

“Just​ as black magic‍⁠ spawns repulsive monsters​ like you, it‍​⁠ also gives birth‍ to monsters like​​ me, who live⁠ by devouring them.‌ Now do you‍‍​ understand why I became like this?”⁠

Wayne​ still did not​​ die.

Meanwhile,​‍​ other knights with‍⁠ tentacles on their⁠‌‌ backs appeared. They‌ all looked similar.‌‍‌

“What’s‌ this? Your friends?”‍

Wayne’s‍⁠‌ body, in four​ pieces, stood up.​‍‍ From the wounds,​ tentacles sprouted, stretching​​‌ out and beginning‌​ to join with‍​⁠ the other knights.⁠⁠​

They‌ were fusing into​ one.

It‌ was like watching‌​ Okua’s last desperate⁠ act on the‌ prairie.

“Well‍ now…”

At‌ the end of‌⁠ that grotesque process,‌ a strange, human-shaped⁠​ monster was born.‌⁠⁠

Yuri​ looked at it‍ and murmured.

“It’s‍‍​ a good time.”​

***‌‌⁠

Elaine‌ took a deep⁠​ breath.

“Huff…”‍‌

She⁠‍‍ lifted her gaze‍‌ toward the sign‌ engraved with “Murim‍ Alliance.”

Below,​ a long staircase⁠ climbed up the​⁠‌ mountain, disappearing into‌⁠ the clouds as​‍‌ if touching the​‍ sky.

At‍‍ her side, Cheongun‍⁠‍ said,

“Let’s‍ go.”

“Do‍‍‍ I really have‍​‍ to go?”

“There’s​ no other choice.”‌‌

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