Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 302: Final Battle (4)

Chapter 302: Final Battle (4)

Heime‌ caught his breath⁠‌ and fixed his‌ gaze on the‍ giant.

He‌ could no longer‍ move with the‌ agility of his⁠ youth, but thanks‌ to his long‌ experience in combat,‌‍‍ he knew perfectly⁠ well how to face such an‍ enemy.

The‍ giant’s movements were‍‍ similar to those of an orc—impulsive,⁠ driven more by‍‍ instinct than by⁠⁠ reason.

A small decoy was enough to provoke a reaction, so‍ it was necessary⁠‍‌ to face him‌‌ with cunning.

Heime‍ looked around and⁠ spoke.

“Can‍‍ you follow my⁠‍ instructions?”

“Yes!”‌

“Keep‍‍‍ him distracted at‍ the front, but‌⁠‍ don’t go too‍‌ deep in.”

“Understood!”‍‌⁠

The⁠ knights obeyed immediately.‌

In‌⁠‌ that place, there‌ was no one⁠ who didn’t know the name of Heime Theodore, the‍‌ Shield of Briol‍ and living legend‍‌ who had dedicated‌‍ his entire life to protecting the⁠‌ border.

The‍‍ knights rushed to‍ provoke the giant.‌

Deprived⁠ of reason by⁠‍ black magic, the⁠ monster lashed out⁠⁠ with its fists,‍‌ trying to catch‍‍ them.

In the middle of‍ the exchange of‌⁠‌ blows, a brief‍ opening appeared.

Heime⁠‌ lunged forward without⁠‌‌ hesitation.

“Count!”‌‍⁠

The‍ knights, alarmed by‌‌ his sudden action,⁠ called out to‍ him, but he⁠ didn’t stop.

He⁠‍ stepped into the‌ most dangerous zone,⁠‌‌ right within the⁠⁠‌ giant’s reach, used‍ its knee as⁠ a foothold, and⁠ leapt upward.

A surge of exhilaration‍ ran through his‍‍ body.

It⁠ was like returning‍ to his younger‌ days, when he⁠ knew no fear⁠ and always plunged‍‌ into the heart‌‌⁠ of the enemy⁠ lines—until he lost‌‌ his son at‍ the hands of‌⁠ the orcs.

Smiling, he drove his‌ sword into the‍‍ giant’s shoulder and‌‌ used it as‍‍ a foothold to⁠‍ push himself up⁠ to its nape.⁠‌

The‍‍ giant thrashed wildly‌‌‍ to try to⁠‍ crush him, but‌ Heime wrapped his‌⁠⁠ legs around its⁠ neck and drew⁠ his sword.

The monster spun violently; Heime’s helmet flew‍⁠ off, and his⁠ cheek split from‍ the blow of‍‌ a fist.

“Count,‍⁠ it’s dangerous!”

Heime‍ ignored the warning.⁠‍

With⁠‌‌ his silver hair⁠‌ billowing, he gripped‌‍ the sword inverted⁠ and raised it.

“Haaah!”‌

The⁠‍ blade came down on the back‍ of the giant’s‌⁠ skull. It was⁠‍ a blow filled‌ with energy, but⁠‌ the skull was‍⁠ hard—he only managed‌‍‌ to tear the‍‌ skin.

He⁠‍ pulled out the sword and struck again.

This‌ time, he felt‌ something different—the sword⁠‍‌ had pierced the‍‍ giant’s hand, which‍‍ it had raised⁠‍‌ to protect its‌ head.

Now‍ it was pinned,‌‍ the monster’s hand‍ fixed to its‌ nape.

Without‍ stopping, Heime raised‌ the sword again‌⁠ and attacked.

Blood splattered as the⁠⁠‍ giant shook with‌⁠‍ fury, almost enough‍ to knock him‍⁠ off.

The‌ strength in his⁠ legs began to falter—if he fell,⁠ he would be‍ crushed mercilessly, just⁠ as his son‍ had been.

A flame of rage burned in his eyes.

He⁠‌ arched like a bow, raised the‍ sword, and kept‍‍ striking. He didn’t care that the⁠ giant was shielding‍ its head with⁠‌ its hands—he kept‍⁠ hacking until both⁠⁠ were ruined.

The giant’s roar echoed‌⁠ across the battlefield.

Heime smiled.

“Does⁠ it hurt?”

When⁠‍ nothing recognizable as⁠⁠‌ hands remained, he⁠‍ looked up. The‌⁠ smell of blood—his⁠‌ own and that‍ of others—enveloped him.

The monster’s white skull‌‍ was exposed.

Heime⁠‍‍ delivered a final⁠⁠ blow.

The‌ skull cracked.

No matter how much‍⁠‍ it had been‌‌⁠ spawned by black‌ magic, without a brain, it could⁠ no longer move.⁠‌

He‌ twisted the blade;‍‍‌ viscous fluids splattered⁠ on his face.‍⁠ He licked his‍‍ mouth, tasted the marrow, and pushed‌⁠‌ the sword in‍‍‌ deeper.

The‌ giant collapsed.

Amid the dust, Heime⁠‍ stood up.

The‍ knights looked at‌ him wide-eyed, respect‌ in their gaze.‌

But‌⁠ there were still⁠⁠⁠ many giants left,‌ and allies continued‌ to fall. In‌‌ the faces of⁠‍ the dying young men, he saw‌ his own past.‍‌

A new flame lit⁠ in his eyes.⁠‌‍

“Excellent.”‌‌

He‍ felt the urge⁠‍ to kiss the‍⁠ prince who had‌⁠ given him this⁠⁠‍ opportunity.

He‍ began to walk‌‌ with a firm‍⁠‌ stride, followed by⁠ the knights.

“Count,‍‌ are you all right…?”

“I⁠ hate those bastards.”

“Pardon?”‌⁠

“I⁠‌ hate them so much I can’t‌ stand it.”

He‌ pointed his sword‌ forward.

There‍‌‌ were the giants,‍ then the monsters,‌‌ and finally, the‌ twisted fortress of‍ Zveta.

“And‌‌ don’t you?”

Heime’s words rang out⁠‌ with force. The‌‌ knights understood instantly.‍‌

They killed people, treated them like cattle,‌ transformed them, sacrificed‍ them, threatened their⁠ daily lives, and‍⁠ forced them to⁠‌ fight on this‌‍⁠ front line.

Monsters,‌ black magic, and‌‌ those so-called gods‌⁠ from another world.

That‌‌‌ hatred of Heime’s‍ spread to the‍ others.

Courage‍ turned into resentment,‌ and duty into‍ bloodlust. Their eyes‍⁠ burned with an‍‍ intense red.

“I see you all‍⁠⁠ think as I do. In that⁠‌ case, this chat is a luxury‌ we can’t afford.”‍

“Yes.”‌⁠‍

“We don’t have the⁠ skill of a certain someone to⁠⁠ mow down monsters—we‍ must use our‌ heads, like I just did. Understood?”⁠‍

“Yes!”‌

The‍ knights changed their⁠‌ way of fighting—like‌ packs of wild‌ dogs, they threw⁠ themselves at the⁠‌ giants, searching for‍ any opening to‍‌ bite.

Heime,‌‍ after destroying another‌‍ giant’s eye, straightened‍‍⁠ up.

He‌‍ felt that a rib might be‌ broken, but that was a minor⁠⁠ detail.

“Even⁠‌‍ so, there are⁠ too many…” he⁠‌ muttered.

“Maybe if… ah.”

He‌⁠ looked up.

Something‍ strange was happening‍ in the sky—the⁠‌‍ clouds churned like‌‌‌ a stormy sea‍ and parted to⁠ form a dark‍ corridor.

Something‌⁠ was descending from⁠‌ there.

At⁠⁠ first, he thought⁠ it was the‍‌ sun.

It‌‌ was a burning‍⁠ sphere with a long tail—a meteor.‍

Heime⁠‍‍ smiled.

“Beautiful.”‌

Its‍‍ trajectory pointed to‌‌‌ the center, between⁠‍‍ the Imperial army⁠‌ and Zveta’s wall.⁠⁠

The‍ legendary magic “Meteor,”⁠ of uncertain existence,‌ was manifesting before⁠‌ everyone.

Undoubtedly‍ the work of⁠‍‌ Inariel, that elven‍⁠ mage with the⁠ appearance of a young man. The⁠‌ entire battlefield looked‌ to the sky;‍⁠ even the monsters stopped.

The‌⁠ Empire reacted—from within⁠ Zveta’s organic wall,⁠‌‍ they fired projectiles like cannon shots.⁠⁠

They were trying to‍ divert or destroy‌‍⁠ the meteor mid-air.‌⁠‌

It was useless—black magic⁠‌ warped and burned‌⁠‍ on contact with⁠‍ the meteor’s heat,⁠‍ which grew like⁠‍‍ a snowball.

A black lattice of‌ tentacles emerged in the sky, seeking‍⁠⁠ to soften the impact.

But⁠ it melted before‍⁠ touching it.

The⁠ colossal rock fragment⁠⁠ crossed the sky‍ and, upon impact,⁠⁠ unleashed a catastrophe.⁠‌

Meteor.‍‌‍

Heime’s⁠‌ vision was filled‍ with blinding white light.

***

Yuri⁠‌‌ was far ahead, facing the enemy.‍

He‌‍ had almost completely⁠‍ broken through the‌‍ giant lines when‌ a half-human, half-beast‍⁠ monster waiting in⁠ the rear blocked‍⁠⁠ his way.

It‍‌ was as large‌‌ as a giant,‌ but also possessed⁠⁠ the agility of⁠ a beast. Its‍ reaction speed far‌ surpassed that of‍⁠ the giants, making‌‍ it difficult to‌ find an opening.⁠

That’s‌‍ why Yuri chose‌ to press it‍ with brute force.‍

He‍ raised a powerful⁠‌ wave of sword⁠ energy and charged⁠⁠‌ relentlessly, cutting everything⁠⁠ in his path.⁠⁠‍ Every time he⁠ swung his sword,‍‌ howls rang out‌ and blood splattered.‌

Although‌ the mana consumption⁠‍‍ was high, for‍⁠ Yuri that was‍‌⁠ no longer a problem.

He‍⁠ had mastered the‌‌ use of Chaos‌ to the point‌‌ of manipulating the‍ very capacity of his mana, releasing it at will.‍

Jared,‌ impressed, said:

“Is‌ he a monster?‍⁠⁠ How can he‌‍‍ keep going like‌‍ this…?”

“It’s‍‍ a matter of‌⁠‌ effort.”

“Effort?”⁠⁠‌

“Of‍‌ course.”

Of‌ course, it was‌‍ a joke. Yuri‌ knew he had‌⁠ surpassed human limits.‍‍ Sometimes he felt⁠‌⁠ his power was excessive and even‍⁠ dangerous, but such⁠ concerns were a luxury he could‍‌ only afford in‍ times of peace.‍

At‍ that moment, he‌ was grateful for‌‍ the strength he⁠‌ possessed and unleashed‌‌‌ it without restraint.‌

He‌ called out to‌ Cedric again.

“Cedric!”‌

But⁠⁠⁠ there was no‍ answer—only more monsters‍‍ rushing at him.‌⁠

Jared⁠ shouted.

“You’ve‌‌ gone too far‌ ahead! We’re surrounded!⁠ Hey, Laurent! Are‌ you okay?”

“No!”‍

Yuri,‍ Laurent, and Jared⁠‌ covered each other’s‌⁠⁠ backs as they⁠ swung their swords.⁠‍

Laurent, cutting down enemies with dark flashes⁠ of energy, shouted:‍‍

“Yuri‍ Briol, I think‍ we should fall‍‍ back.”

“I’m fine.”

“Fine,‍ nothing! We’re too⁠‍ surrounded. Save your strength and advance‍ slowly, waiting for‍‌‍ the main force.”⁠

“That’s‌ not necessary.”

“Do‌ you have a plan?”

“Of⁠ course.”

“What⁠ is it?”

“Well…”⁠

“Yes?”‌

“Hya!”‍‍⁠

In‌‌ reality, he didn’t have one. He‌⁠ just wanted to⁠ keep moving forward.‍ A burning urge⁠‌ to attack pushed‍‍ him ahead.

Laurent,⁠‍⁠ frustrated, pressed on.⁠

“If there’s no other‌ choice, we should⁠⁠ retreat.”

But‍‌‍ Yuri looked up⁠‍ at the sky, noticing something before‌ the others.

“Hey.”⁠⁠‌

He‌ pointed upward.

“That.”‍⁠⁠

“What?”‍

Laurent‌‌ and Jared looked,⁠ as did the monsters surrounding them.‌ All raised their‌⁠ eyes as they‍⁠ felt the danger.‍⁠‌

The⁠⁠ sky opened, and⁠ a ball of‌‍ fire descended.

It‍‌ was what Yuri‍‌ had been waiting‌‍ for.

“That’s⁠ no simple fireball—it’s‍⁠ a meteor.”

“That’s⁠ my ace up‍ the sleeve.”

“You‍‌ sound surprised.”

“So‍‍‌ what?”

The⁠ meteor’s path passed⁠ dangerously close to‌⁠‌ their position. Yuri⁠ raised his sword and erected a barrier.

“It’s‍ going to get‌ a little hot—hold⁠‍‌ on.”

“Maybe‍ we should—”

“It’s‍‍ too late.”

He‍‍ unleashed the Cut⁠ of the soul‌ and the heart,⁠ creating a hemispherical⁠ wall of white‍ light. The monsters⁠⁠‌ struck desperately at‌ the shield, but⁠‍ to no avail.‍

The‍‍ meteor was getting⁠ closer.

“Elves‍ sure know magic.”⁠‌

“Racist‌‍ comment.”

“If‍‍ you don’t like‌⁠‌ it, get out.”‌⁠

“Hehehe…”

And then, everything turned‌⁠⁠ white.

There⁠⁠ was no sound—only‍ a high-pitched ringing‍‌⁠ filled the ears.⁠ The barrier trembled‍⁠⁠ and the heat‌ seeped in, scorching‍ skin. Yuri clenched his teeth.

The‌‍ meteor’s power was⁠‍ overwhelming. If it‌ continued, Laurent and⁠⁠ Jared would be‌ in danger. He‍ turned to Chaos,⁠ exploring all possibilities‌ until he found⁠‍ the strength he⁠ needed.

The⁠‍ barrier strengthened and‌⁠ the heat receded.⁠

When his vision cleared,‌ he saw Laurent⁠‍‌ collapsed and Jared‌‌‍ unconscious, clutching his pants. He kicked⁠ him aside and‍⁠⁠ looked ahead.

The mushroom-shaped cloud of‌ dust rose into‍ the sky. The⁠‍‌ force of the‌ impact was immense.‌ Although he trusted⁠‌‍ that Inariel would‌ have controlled it,‍‍ he feared collateral⁠‌ damage among their‌‍⁠ allies.

The wind swept away‌‌ the dust and‌ revealed a clear⁠⁠ blue sky—the black‍ clouds had dissipated.‍⁠‍

On‍⁠ the ground was‍‌⁠ a gigantic crater,⁠‍ devoid of any⁠ trace of life.⁠‍