Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 303: Final Battle (5)

Chapter 303: Final Battle (5)

The‌‌ monsters within the⁠ area of the⁠ crater had evaporated‌ without leaving a trace, and those‌ around it, with‍‍ most of their‌‍ bodies destroyed, barely‌⁠⁠ clung to breath‍⁠ and let out‍ screams of agony.‍

More‌ than half of⁠ the enemy forces‌ had been eliminated⁠‍ in a single‍‍‌ strike.

That‍ was Meteor.

It⁠ was the magic⁠‍‍ of the great⁠ archmage Inariel.

However,‍‌ the fortress of‌⁠ Zveta still stood‌⁠ without a single‌⁠ scratch.

It⁠‌‍ was as if⁠‍ the inside and‌ the outside were⁠ in separate worlds, divided by the⁠‍ walls.

“What‌⁠ is this…?”

Jared,‍ who had regained⁠ consciousness after receiving‍ a kick from‍ Yuri, staggered to‌‍ his feet.

“This…⁠‌ this is even‍ possible?”

“No,‌ it isn’t.”

“Huh?”⁠

Yuri⁠ thought he understood‌⁠ the reason.

Not‍‌‍ even Inariel could‍‍‍ use such an⁠‌ absurd magic without‍⁠ paying a price,‌ even if he‌‍ was the master‌ of the Immutable Mana Formula.

Surely,‍ he had paid‍‍ it.

Yuri⁠ looked away.

From‌‍ the crater formed⁠ by Meteor, small bluish sparks rose‍⁠‌ into the sky,‌ drifting here and‌ there like fireflies.⁠

Inariel‌ had probably lost⁠ his exclusive magic,‌ the Immutable Mana‌‍ Formula.

And‌‌ not only that,‌ perhaps also a great portion of‌‌‍ his own mana.⁠‍

Yuri‌ murmured.

“Inariel⁠‌ has done all this… We can’t‌‌ afford to lose.”‌‌‍

Yuri⁠‌ took Guilty and‍‍ pointed it toward⁠‍ Zveta.

That⁠ was where his⁠‌ target was.

There was still a long way to⁠ go.

“Cedric‌ must be surprised‍‌ too.”

No⁠‍‌ matter how brilliant⁠ Cedric was, he⁠ couldn’t foresee everything.‌ How could he imagine that such‍‌ an out-of-scale magic‌ as Meteor would⁠⁠ fall, or that‍ there existed a mage capable of⁠⁠ using it?

A large portion of the enemy army‌‍ had vanished in⁠⁠ an instant.

Although‍‍⁠ there were still‌‌ troops beyond Meteor’s⁠ range, the momentum‌ was already on‍‌ their side.

“Let’s‌ kill all those‍ and then enter⁠ Zveta.”

“Let’s‌‌ do it.”

The‍⁠ Anti-Imperial Alliance let‍‍ out a war⁠‍ cry and charged‍ at the remaining‍ monsters.

Even⁠ the monsters dominated‍‌ by black magic‍⁠ seemed dazed by⁠⁠‍ Meteor’s impact, and no longer moved‌ like before. The‌ Anti-Imperial Alliance troops‌⁠‌ advanced mercilessly.

The‌⁠ giants fell, hybrid monsters were pierced‍ like hedgehogs and⁠ collapsed, and the‍‍‍ creatures further away⁠ were hunted like‍‍⁠ wild animals.

But‌ the enemy resistance⁠‌‍ did not cease‌‍‍ completely.

Human‌ and monstrous flesh⁠ flew through the‌ air, and tentacles and spears clashed,⁠ scattering blood.

The⁠ battlefield once again‍‌ became a hell⁠‍ of slaughter, where life and death⁠ crossed paths without⁠‍ rest.

Yuri‌⁠ dove back into⁠‌‌ the battle.

He⁠ recognized a familiar‌‌‌ face wandering aimlessly.⁠⁠

“Hey,‍⁠ Tirbo. What are‍ you doing?”

“Fighting‍‍ a monster! Hehehe…”‍

“It‌⁠ just looks like⁠‍‍ you’re getting cornered.”⁠‍‍

“I’d‍‍ appreciate some help!”⁠‌

“You’re‌‌ disqualified as my‍ standard-bearer.”

“Understood! Then I’ll pass‍ the flag to‌ someone else!”

“This⁠ idiot…”

Yuri‍ helped Tirbo against‍⁠ the monster. Though‍ Tirbo had talent,‌ he still had⁠ a long way‌‌ to go.

The⁠‌⁠ monster Tirbo could⁠⁠ barely hold back‍‌ was split in⁠‍⁠ an instant, and‍ Yuri hurried to assist other allies.‌

Everywhere‌ he appeared, monsters‍⁠‌ exploded into pieces.‌

“Thanks!”⁠

“Don’t‍⁠‍ stop!”

“Yes!”‍‍

With all his senses‌ at their peak,‍‌ Yuri was experiencing‍ a different time‍‍‍ flow than the⁠‍‌ others.

The⁠⁠ enemies, and even⁠⁠ the world, moved⁠‌‌ in infinite slowness.‌⁠ He felt he‌‍⁠ could do anything‍⁠ just by deciding to.

For‌‌‍ example—

Saving‍‍‌ a soldier just‍ before a monster⁠‍⁠ ripped his neck⁠ out.

“Your‌ Highness…!”

Stepping‍ on the monster’s⁠ body to slam it into the⁠‌ ground and, using‍⁠ the momentum, leaping‍ to the other⁠‌ side to stab⁠ another attacking a knight in the‌‍ head.

“Thanks!”‍⁠

Cutting⁠ several charging monsters‍ in two in the blink of‍⁠ an eye.

“H-Help!”⁠‍‍

And‍ clearing the shadow‍ of a monster‍ looming over a crawling soldier who⁠‍ had lost a leg.

“Y-Your⁠ Highness?”

“Go⁠ to the rear.⁠ The mages will‌‌ heal you.”

“Yes.”‍‍

“You‍‌‍ can go on your own, right?”‍

“Yes,‍‌‌ yes.”

It⁠‌ might seem cruel,⁠ but there was⁠ no alternative. He⁠‌ couldn’t fight carrying⁠ the wounded; if⁠‍ they wanted to⁠ live, they had⁠⁠‍ to move themselves.‌

Yuri‌⁠ opened his eyes‍ wide.

In⁠‌ his field of vision, countless events‌ occurred at the⁠‍‌ same time. Thousands,‌⁠ tens of thousands⁠ of lives were struggling to kill‌‍ each other. Yuri⁠‌ identified what he⁠‍ could do and‌‌ executed it in⁠⁠ fractions of a second.

His‌‍‍ mind and body‌⁠‍ accelerated to the⁠⁠ limit.

In‌‍‍ an instant, he‌⁠ saved many allies‍⁠‌ and killed numerous‍⁠ enemies. A storm‌ rose on the‍ battlefield.

Where‍⁠ he passed, the monsters’ bodies were‍ torn apart.

Yuri⁠ was, quite literally,‍⁠ leading the battle⁠‍ alone.

“Aren’t⁠ you overdoing it?”⁠

Fighting‌‍ without pause, he‌ reached the Holy⁠ Kingdom’s formation. Francesco,‍ who had just⁠ slain a monster,‌‌‌ smiled.

“Or‌ is this nothing‌‌ for you?”

“More‍ or less.”

“Good.‍⁠ But save your‍ strength, there’s still…”‌

Francesco‌‍ pointed with his‍‍ chin toward Zveta.⁠‍

“That⁠⁠ still remains.”

Although‍ Meteor had wiped‍ out much of‍ the enemy forces, the fortress was‌‍⁠ still intact. At⁠‌ times, parts of‌ the wall opened‍‌ like the mouth‌⁠ of a beast,‌ releasing more monsters.⁠

“I⁠ suppose so.”

“It’s‍‍⁠ not worth wasting⁠ time talking to‍‌‍ me. Good luck.”⁠⁠

“Same‍⁠‌ to you, Francesco.”‍‌⁠

After‌‌‌ a brief exchange,‍ Yuri moved again.‍

Then,‍ he felt a persistent gaze and⁠‌ looked up. Someone‍‌ was there.

It was a humanoid‌‍ monster holding a curved sword.

“Oh…”

As‌ expected, they wouldn’t‍‍‍ let him move‍ freely for long.⁠

The‍ new enemy had‍‌ a bipedal body‌ like that of⁠ a human, but entirely black and‍‌ with abnormally developed‌‌ muscles. His slanted‌ triangular eyes gleamed⁠ like those of‌ a reptile.

“He’s‌ not a mass-produced⁠⁠ monster…” murmured Yuri.‌⁠⁠

The monsters sent by⁠ the Empire were‍‍⁠ almost identical to‍ each other. However,‍ from time to‍ time, unique specimens‍‌⁠ appeared with their‍‌ own distinct forms.‍

Like‍‍ Katrina.

Those who had been exceptional in life⁠ retained unique abilities⁠‌ even as monsters.⁠

This⁠⁠ one seemed to‍‍‍ be another of‌‍ Cedric’s toys, created⁠⁠ to face him.⁠

“Hey…⁠ are you someone⁠ I know?”

Although his body, fused⁠ with black magic,⁠ had lost all‌ human shape, Yuri‍‌‍ had a strange⁠‍ sense of familiarity.

The⁠⁠ monster didn’t respond,‌ advancing with his‌ curved sword dragging‌ along the ground.‍ His long arms⁠‌ suggested he had‍‍ great reach.

Yuri examined his weapon⁠ while raising Guilty.⁠

“You…‌ I think I know who you‍ are. Quite arrogant, aren’t you?”

“Hasan?‌ Weren’t you dead?⁠ Or maybe… you were just imprisoned.”‌

“…”⁠⁠

“Hey.”‍‍

“…”‌‍

“You’re not going to‍‌ answer?”

Hasan‍ had attacked the⁠⁠ royal palace of⁠ Briol and was subdued by Bernard.‌‍⁠ Yuri didn’t understand‌⁠ how he had‍‍ ended up turned into a monster.

Even⁠ if he had escaped from the⁠ palace, the timing‍‍ didn’t add up.

“Could‍ it be that‌‍ the person doesn’t‌⁠ even have to‍‌ be present to‍‌ create a monster…?”‍‍ murmured Yuri.

If‌‌ Cedric had Hasan’s‌‍‍ biological information, perhaps⁠ he could create⁠ him without the‌ actual person being⁠‌ there.

On‌ top of denying⁠‍ human dignity, Cedric‌ was dabbling in‍ cloning. That only⁠‍‌ increased Yuri’s rage.‌

Gripping⁠‌ Guilty, he thought⁠ with contempt:

“To be the brother‌⁠‌ of that bastard…‌⁠‍ Father, what were‍‌ you thinking?”

Hasan‌⁠‌ approached, stroked the edge of his⁠⁠ sword as if‍⁠ savoring it, and‍‍ grinned widely, the‌ corners of his‌ mouth opening farther‌‍ than humanly possible.⁠

“Well‍ now… did Hasan⁠‍ have these hobbies?”‌

Before⁠‌ a fight began,‌ Yuri had seen‌ types trying to‌ intimidate with strange‍ actions, but he‍‌ didn’t expect that from Hasan.

Yuri,⁠ having learned a new detail about⁠ him, nodded.

“The‍‌ Empire… the more‌ I learn about⁠‌ it, the more‌ I want to‍ kill all those‍ bastards.”

Yuri‍ was the first‌ to move.

His‍⁠ sword aura shot‍‌ toward Hasan’s waist,⁠ intending to cleave‍⁠‍ him in two.‍‌‌

Then,‍‍ on Hasan’s grotesque‌‍ face—so deformed it⁠⁠ was unrecognizable—appeared something‍‍ like a smile.‌‍

At⁠ the same time,‍‍‌ several figures emerged‍‌ from the ground.‍‍⁠

“Huh?”‍‍

Four‌‍‍ monsters identical to‌‌ Hasan, each wielding⁠‍ curved swords, lunged‌ at Yuri. The‍ trajectories of their‌ weapons were so⁠ strange that it‌⁠ was hard to⁠ predict them.

Yuri⁠⁠ bent his waist⁠ as if performing‌ acrobatics and retreated, but another Hasan‌ tried to cut⁠⁠ him from behind.‌‍

He⁠⁠ rolled once on the ground and,‍ upon getting up, swung Guilty in⁠ an ascending slash‌‌ that split the‍⁠ enemy from bottom‍⁠‌ to top.

“Damn…!”‍‌

One⁠ fell, cut in‍⁠ two. He wanted‌‌ to destroy it‍ completely, but the⁠ other four attacked‌ immediately, forcing him‍ to defend.

While‍⁠⁠ Yuri exchanged blows‍⁠ with them, tentacles‍‌ sprouted from the bisected Hasan’s wound,⁠⁠ beginning to stitch⁠ his body back⁠ together.

The‌⁠‌ coordinated offensive of‌ the five was⁠ so precise that⁠⁠ Yuri had trouble‍ reacting.

It‌‌ was as if‍‌‍ they had all‌⁠ trained together to⁠‍ fight as a single opponent.

Just‍‍‌ how far did‍⁠ Cedric’s black magic‌ go?

One‌ alone wouldn’t be⁠‍ a problem, but⁠ with five trying‌‍ to attack him‌‍ from behind, it‌ was hard to‌ ignore them.

Moreover,‍ they showed no⁠ intent to protect‍⁠ one another; rather,‍⁠ they seemed to‌‌⁠ expect the death‌‌ of one to‍ exploit any opening⁠‍⁠ from Yuri.

Turning‌⁠‌ in place, Yuri‍⁠‌ made sure to⁠ get a good⁠⁠‌ look at the‌ faces of the‍ five Hasans.

They‍ were identical.

The‌‌ energy they radiated⁠ was also the⁠‌ same.

If⁠⁠‌ Cedric could produce‌ dozens or hundreds‌ of creatures as‍ strong as these—‍

“I‌ hope not…”

That⁠ couldn’t be the‍ case. No matter⁠ how much power‍‍ Cedric had gained,‌ if it reached⁠ that level, the‌ war would turn‌⁠ far too grim.⁠⁠

“Yuri‍⁠ Briol!”

Without‍‌ him noticing, Laurent‌ had arrived. One‌‍‍ of the Hasans‌ lunged at him.⁠

“Well⁠⁠ done, Laurent!” shouted⁠ Yuri.

With⁠ five reduced to‌ four, the pressure‍ eased.

Yuri‍ smiled.

“Even⁠ if you complain‍‌ in words, in action you’re still‍ the same as‍ before…”

Seeing⁠‍ him appear out‍‍‌ of nowhere to‍ help, just as⁠‍ he used to,⁠⁠ felt almost endearing—so‌‍‌ long as he‌‌ kept his mouth⁠⁠ shut.

“Y-Your⁠⁠ Highness… haa… haa…”‌⁠

Jared⁠‍‍ also arrived a bit late. Another⁠ Hasan fell dead.‍‍

“Why‍ don’t you praise⁠ me?” protested Jared‍‌ when Yuri said nothing.

“Oh,‌‌ you’re here already?”⁠

“…”‍‍‍

Five⁠‍ had been reduced‍‌ to three. It⁠‍ was a huge‌⁠⁠ difference.

The⁠ encirclement around him‍ now had too‍‍ many gaps—so many⁠ that Yuri hesitated‍‌ how to finish‍ them off.

He‌‍ moved toward one,‍⁠ provoking the other‌⁠ two to rush at his back,‍‍ just as he‌ had expected.

He⁠ planted his right⁠ foot as a pivot and stepped‌ forward with his‌ left, as if‍ about to deliver a great slash.

The two enemies behind‍⁠ reacted, but at‌‍ that instant he⁠‌ shifted his center‍ of gravity, turned⁠ his left foot‌ into the pivot,‍ and spun sharply, reversing front and rear.

With⁠‍ Guilty, which he‍ kept pulled back,‌ he stabbed the‍ first.

“Ghhk!”⁠

At his side was‍ another Hasan. Yuri⁠⁠‍ took advantage of⁠‍ the momentum and‌‌‌ traced a lateral⁠‍ cut, first tearing‍ through the stabbed‌⁠‍ one’s body and‌‌‍ then slicing the second as well.‍

The‍‌‌ last Hasan, who‌ was in a defensive stance, tried‌⁠ to rush forward,‍ but it was‌‍ too late—two of⁠ his own were‌‌ already dead.

Yuri⁠ dodged his attack⁠ by twisting his‌‍ body and beheaded the third and⁠ last.

The⁠‍ shattered bodies tried‌ to reassemble, but‌‌ Yuri concentrated “The‌ Cut of the⁠‍ soul and the‍‌ heart” into his‍‍ aura and reduced⁠ them to dust.‌⁠⁠

They⁠ would not rise‌ again.

“Hasan,⁠ rest in peace…”⁠‌‌ he murmured, turning‌‌ his gaze.

Laurent‌ and Jared were‌ easily handling their‍ opponents in one-on-one⁠ duels.

Leaving‌⁠ them to it,‌‍ Yuri glanced sidelong‍ toward Zveta.

Atop‍‍ the empty wall stood someone.

A familiar face.

Yuri‌‍ clenched his teeth.‌

“Cedric…”‍‌

His‌ enemy had appeared,‌ wearing a relaxed⁠ expression.

And⁠ suddenly, a small,‍ limping figure stepped‍⁠ up beside him.‍

“Cory…”‌

Yuri‌ whispered with regret.⁠