Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 308: Demon (1)

Chapter 308: Demon (1)

Yuri‍⁠ expanded his energy⁠⁠ into the interior‍ of the wall.‌

Then,⁠ the energy of‍⁠⁠ black magic tried⁠ to push its⁠ way in, following‌‌ the current of‌‌‌ his energy to‍ penetrate inside him.‌‌‍ Images of all‌‌ sorts of evil⁠‌‍ things churned in⁠ Yuri’s mind.

But he did not‌ waver.

Without‌⁠ allowing himself to‍ be swayed, he⁠ rejected all interference‍‍ while searching for⁠ the monster’s core.‌‌

Once‌ he pinpointed its⁠ position, he began‍ to rotate his‌‌ mana.

The‍ core had to‍ be destroyed to‌⁠ bring down the‌ wall. However, subduing‌‍‌ this monster, formed from a mixture‍‌ of all manner‍ of vile spells,‌‌ was no easy⁠‌ task.

His‍‌‍ sharp senses picked‍‌ up every battle⁠⁠ happening around him.‍⁠

Laurent‍‍ was falling, Jared‌ was injured.

Eto⁠⁠ and Oliver were‌ fighting back-to-back in‍‌ a bloody struggle.⁠⁠ Up above, the‌‌ Ten Greats were⁠⁠ withstanding the firepower‌ of the legion.‍‌

Everyone⁠ was fighting desperately.⁠

For an ordinary knight,‍⁠ merely being in this place for⁠ an instant would‌‍ be enough to‍ exhaust them completely.‍‌

The⁠‌ air pressed against‌⁠ their limbs, the ground vibrated without⁠⁠⁠ rest, and the‍‍ palpable hostility cut‌ both body and⁠ mind.

In‍ the middle of⁠ that battlefield, Yuri‌‌ focused on his‍⁠ goal.

Even‌⁠‍ if some of⁠‌ the allies he⁠⁠ had brought died‍ here, and even‌⁠ if it might‌ be his responsibility—‌

This‌ was no time‍ to hesitate.

He‍‌ closed his eyes.‍⁠

His‍⁠ eyelids fell like‌‍ a curtain.

In⁠‍‌ the instant he‍‌‍ blocked his sight,‍⁠‍ his other senses‍‌ sharpened as if‍‌ a veil had‍‍ been lifted.

Now,⁠ Chaos, which had‌‍‌ become his companion,‍‍ remained by his‍ side.

After‍ a long time,⁠⁠ Yuri settled back into the present.‌

Within⁠‍ him, The Cut‍ of the Soul‌ and the Heart⁠ and Chaos gave⁠‌ him what he‌⁠ desired without the⁠‍ need to harmonize‌ them.

Absolute⁠‍ control over mana.⁠

Even the mana that‍⁠ left his hands‍ to be absorbed⁠⁠ by the strange‌ creature ended up‍‍ obeying his will.‍

The‌ monster’s core beat⁠ periodically, like a heart. With each‌‌⁠ beat, it spread‌ a wave reminiscent⁠ of lamentation and‍ a scream of‍ pain.

Yuri‌ vaguely understood that⁠‍ everything was connected.‌

The rhythm of that‌‌ core was linked⁠‍⁠ to the cycle‌ of an even‌ more malignant presence,‍‌ lurking beyond the‌ wall.

Yes,‍ that’s right.

Without‌ realizing it, Yuri‌‍ murmured,

“It‍ will be the⁠‍‍ same for you.”‍‍

Guilty‌ in his hand,‌⁠⁠ the mana flowing⁠ through it, and the sword energy‍‌ manifesting above—all of‍‍ it was connected⁠⁠‍ as one.

The‌ chaos pouring from‌ his inner core⁠ pushed voraciously into‌ the enemy’s interior.‍

The Cut of the‍⁠‍ Soul and the‍⁠ Heart seized the‌ monster’s core.

It‍‌⁠ swelled its body⁠ enormously, spreading lamentation‍‌ and screams as⁠ an attack.

But‌ it had no effect on Yuri.⁠

An⁠‌ existence created on‍ the basis of‍ human despair could⁠ produce nothing beyond⁠‌‍ its own materials,⁠ and thus could⁠ not threaten him.‍

In‍⁠ contrast, the chaos Yuri wielded transcended‍ what lay above‍ and below the physical world.

Between⁠‍‌ Yuri and the⁠⁠ monster’s core, a great lever was‌⁠ set. At its‌ two distant ends,⁠‍ the fulcrum lay⁠⁠⁠ very close to the enemy.

Yuri‍‌⁠ waited until his⁠ mana had seized‌‍ the entire wall.‍‌‍ Then, the moment‌⁠‌ came.

Yuri‌ detonated the mana.⁠

Light⁠‍‌ erupted.

Cracks‌⁠ appeared across the‌ wall, and from‌‌ them leaked Yuri’s⁠ energy that could⁠⁠‌ no longer be‌ contained.

His‍ whole body vibrated.‍ But, driving the‌ blade even deeper,‌⁠ he amplified the⁠ chaos.

He‍‍⁠ would bring it‍⁠ down completely.

It⁠ was at the‍⁠ instant Yuri was⁠‍⁠ certain the wall‌⁠‍ would fall that‌⁠ a deep red‌ invaded his inner‌‍‌ world.

In‍‌‌ a moment, his‌ vision was dyed‍‍⁠ red. Screams echoed‍‍ in his ears,⁠‌‌ and on his‌ skin he felt‍ as if the‌ nails of those‍⁠ dying and clinging⁠ to him were⁠⁠‌ digging into his⁠⁠ flesh.

For‌ a moment, Yuri‌ lost concentration.

“Kugh…”‌

He‌‍ opened his eyes.‌

Under a blinding glow, the ground beneath⁠ his feet was⁠⁠ collapsing. However, he‌ perceived that the⁠ malignant energy attacking⁠ him was preventing‍ the total destruction‍ of the wall.‌‍‍

He looked to the‌ side.

The Murim Alliance was in the same⁠ situation. The wall,⁠‌ split wide open,⁠ was slowly tilting,‍ but the malignant⁠‌‍ energy kept the surface bound together‌⁠ to the very‌⁠ end.

Almost‌‍ completely destroyed—but not‍ entirely. Literally.

He⁠‌ could have destroyed it, but by‍ the slimmest margin,‍ he had not.‍

“Damn‍⁠ it…”

At‌‌‌ that moment, when⁠‍ Yuri raised his‍⁠‍ head and fixed‍ his gaze on‍ the interior of‌‍‌ Zveta, something pushed‌‌ him from behind.‍‌‍

At‌‍ first he thought‍ it was just‌‌‍ a gust of⁠ wind.

But‌ little by little⁠‍‌ his ears caught⁠‍ that it was‌ the shouts of⁠⁠⁠ an army.

Turning‌ around, he saw‌ a multitude filling⁠ his field of⁠‌ vision. The entire Anti-Imperial allied army was charging madly⁠ toward the wall⁠ destroyed by the two elite forces.

The‍ intact parts of‍ the wall extended⁠‌‌ tentacles to stop⁠ them, but the‌⁠‍ human tide surged over them like a tsunami.

There‍ was no fear‍⁠‌ in them.

If‌‌ an ally fell,‌ they stepped on his body to‌ advance; if they themselves died, they‍ cleared the path‍ for those behind.

In‍‌ the front line,⁠ Ainzer shouted at‍‌ the top of‍⁠ his lungs,

“Charge!”⁠‌‌

Knights‌ clad in mana charged alongside Ainzer‍ and attacked the‍‍ wall. At times‌ they cut it‍‌ with sword energy,⁠ at others they⁠ rammed it with‌ their bodies, making‌ the wall—already barely⁠ standing—begin to waver.‌⁠‍

The‍ Empire did not‍‍ remain still either.‌‍ Tentacles emerged from the ground, piercing⁠‌⁠ the bodies of⁠‌ several soldiers and‍ lifting them into‌‍ the sky.

Some‍‍ swung spears and⁠ swords at the‌⁠ tentacles; others struck‍⁠ the wall.

Chaos‌‌‌ broke loose.

Yuri⁠‍ shouted to rally‌ those around him.⁠‍ Fortunately, the eighteen‌‌ who had come‌⁠ to assault the‌ wall were still‍‍⁠ alive.

“Bring‍‍⁠ it down!”

Soon‍ after, with a strange rumbling like⁠⁠ the last breath‌ of a living‌‌ creature, the wall collapsed.

Tentacles‌‌‌ emerged from the‍‍ breach to try‌ to restore it,‌‌ but it was useless. The Anti-Imperial alliance surged en⁠⁠ masse into the⁠⁠ interior of Zveta.⁠

The‌‌ end of this⁠⁠ long battle was⁠ in sight.

“Keep‍⁠ advancing! Everyone must‌‍ get inside!”

Yuri⁠⁠⁠ was already in‍⁠‍ the front line.‍

It was a strange‍⁠‍ thing.

Beyond‍‌⁠ the wall there‍‍ was nothing—only endless mist that barely⁠ allowed one to‍ see the face‌‌ of the nearest‍ ally. But Yuri‌ kept moving forward‍⁠ without fear, encouraging‌ the others.

He⁠⁠⁠ felt certain they‌⁠‌ could win.

“There’s‍ a chance of‌ victory.”

At his words, Jared‌ responded,

“Oh,‍⁠ good news. But‍ what makes you‍ say that?”

“They‌‌ tried desperately to‍ keep the wall⁠ from falling at‌ the end.”

The‍⁠ best place to⁠ hold off the‌ enemy was this‍‌‌ wall. The Empire would have tried‍⁠ to maintain it⁠‌ at all costs. But in the⁠ end, it was‌‌ breached.

If Cedric had had‍‌ some other stratagem⁠⁠ and that’s why⁠ he had allowed‍‍ the wall to⁠‌‌ fall, he would⁠ not have spent⁠ energy trying to‍‌⁠ prevent its collapse.‌

The‍ black magic that‍‍ struck them at‍ the end was dangerous, but it‌‌ also showed just‌ how desperate Cedric⁠‌⁠ was.

“Master,‌‍ ask if the‌‌ East is all⁠ right.”

“The‌‌ leader of the‍ Murim Alliance says⁠ that it’s now⁠‌‌ difficult for him‌⁠ to fight freely.‍‍ He used most of his energy‌‌ to bring down‍‍ the wall. The‌‍ rest are fine.”‍

“Understood.”‌‌⁠

As they made their‌⁠ way through the‍‍ mist, no particular‍ buildings were visible.‍‌

Originally,⁠⁠ Zveta had not‌ been like this.⁠‌‌

Whatever‍‌‍ had happened, everything‍⁠ had been razed, leaving a completely‌⁠‌ barren land.

And‍‌ in the distance,⁠ a hazy silhouette⁠‍ could be seen.‌

A tower.

And⁠‍ beneath it, spread out everywhere, were‍‍‍ countless cocoons.

Yuri‌ let out a murmur upon seeing‌ the scene beyond‌⁠ the mist. It‌‍ was different from⁠‌ the view from‍ atop the wall.‍⁠ At that time,‌ he hadn’t seen‍‌ that tower either.

The closer they came,‍‍ the more imposing‍ the tower became,‍‍ rising toward the‌ sky. He had⁠⁠‌ seen it before.⁠‌

It‍ matched the landscape‌ that had invaded⁠ his mind when he touched the‌ demon’s grimoire.

At⁠ its highest point,‍‌ something that resembled⁠ an eye rose.‌‌

“Your⁠⁠ Highness.”

“Mm?”‌‌

“Those‍ cocoons.”

Jared‍⁠‍ spoke.

“I don’t know what‌⁠⁠ they are, but‌⁠‌ we should destroy‌ them before anything⁠⁠ comes out of‌ them.”

“That’s‌⁠ what we’ll have‌⁠ to do, isn’t⁠‍ it?” Yuri replied.⁠

He⁠ didn’t know what‌⁠ those cocoons had⁠‍ been created for,‌‌ but surely something ominous was hidden‌‌‍ inside.

Perhaps‌‌‌ it was the‌ process of birthing a monster. Better‍‍ to destroy them before they took⁠‌ shape.

“Destroy‌⁠ them all!” Yuri shouted.

The‍‍ Anti-Imperial Alliance army‍ advanced toward the‍ tower, tearing through‌ the numerous cocoons⁠‍ around it.

When they burst, blood‍⁠ poured out from‍⁠⁠ within.

The‍ inside was laid‍ bare—grotesque, incomplete monster‍‌ bodies exposed in‍⁠‌ raw form.

Even⁠ soldiers hardened by‍‌ a thousand battles‍ twisted their expressions.‌

“The⁠⁠⁠ situation is in⁠‌ our favor,” Yuri murmured.

The fact that they weren’t well-prepared was‌ an advantage. He⁠ hadn’t expected the interior to be⁠‍ so unprotected.

After‍‍ Inariel had wiped⁠ out the troops‌‍ with Meteor and⁠‍ broken the wall, there had been‌ barely any resistance.⁠‌

“Tell‌ them to advance at a steady⁠‍ pace. There’s no‌ hurry now.”

“Understood.”⁠⁠

After‍‍ giving the order,‌ Yuri lifted his‍ gaze toward the⁠ towering structure before⁠ him. They had‍ almost arrived.

He‌‌‍ gripped Guilty tightly.‍‌

It‌‍‌ was time to‌ eradicate the black‌‍ magic and make‌ Cedric pay.

***‍⁠

Cedric had his eyes‌⁠ closed.

“What‍ should we do?”‌⁠

Eugen was bowing before‌‍ him.

The‍ throne was occupied⁠ by Cedric, who‍⁠ did not respond.‍‍

“We‍⁠ should act right⁠‌ now…”

Cedric‌ raised his hand,‌⁠ and Eugen fell⁠⁠ silent. An invisible‍ force pressed against‌‌‍ his facial muscles,⁠ preventing him from‍ moving his lips.‍

Unable‌‌⁠ to speak, Eugen⁠ prostrated himself with‍ his forehead to‌ the floor.

“Mmgh…‍ mmgh…”

When⁠‌⁠ he let out‌‌ a pleading sound,⁠ Cedric waved his‍‍‌ hand and the⁠ force restraining him‌⁠ dissipated.

Eugen‌ bowed again and⁠ withdrew.

Left⁠⁠ alone, Cedric leaned his head back‌ against the throne’s‍ rest.

“So, they’ve finally arrived.”⁠‌

He‌ exhaled deeply, scattering⁠ a red mist.⁠⁠ His consciousness rose‍ and then sank again.

“Still…”⁠‌ he murmured.

“Has‍‍ the moment not‌ yet come?”

His⁠‌ eyes hardened. He‌⁠ gripped the throne’s‌‌ armrests so tightly‍ his hands turned⁠‌ pale.

Suddenly,‍ the door opened⁠ again and someone‍ entered. Short in⁠‌ stature, hood pulled‌‍‍ low, and walking⁠ with a limp.

Cedric‍‌ smiled.

“Cory.”⁠‌⁠

“Lord‍‍⁠ Cedric.”

Cory bowed and knelt⁠‌ on one knee.

“Everything⁠⁠ is ready. What‌‌ shall we do?”⁠⁠

“For⁠ now, wait.”

At⁠ the response, Cory‍‌ was silent for‍⁠⁠ a moment before‍‌⁠ cautiously asking,

“Is‌ it not all⁠‌ in place yet…?”‌⁠

“That’s right.”

Cedric‌ replied in a soft voice, so‍ different from the‌ one he used⁠ with Eugen.

“I‌‍ have accepted the‌ power of that,‍‍‌ but it still hasn’t given me everything. I don’t‌‌⁠ know why its‍⁠ mood has changed.⁠‌ I paid exactly the price it‌‍ asked.”

“This‍‍ is the first‌‍ time I’ve heard‍ you say you‌ don’t know, Lord‍⁠ Cedric.”

Cedric⁠‌ smiled faintly.

“I⁠⁠ can’t know everything.”⁠

As‍‌ Yuri had suspected,‌ Cedric was not‍ in perfect condition.‍‌

He‍‍ had met all the conditions of⁠‍ the contract to⁠‍‌ summon the god⁠⁠ from another world,⁠⁠⁠ but it had not given him⁠ everything that was⁠ promised. The contract‍⁠ was not yet⁠ fully fulfilled.

Cory⁠‌‍ said,

“Is‌⁠ it really necessary⁠ to wait until⁠‌ it gives you everything? In any‍ case, your power‌ is already close‌ to that of‌‍‍ a god, Lord⁠ Cedric. Hehehe…”

“That’s‍‌ true.”

Although he hadn’t obtained⁠‍ everything he wanted,‍‌ Cedric already possessed‌ a power close‍⁠⁠ to that of‍⁠ a god.

He‍‍ was simply pondering‍⁠⁠ why that god‌⁠ wasn’t reacting.

“It’s⁠ noisy outside.”

He‍‌ was aware of⁠‌‌ what was happening‍ in front of‌ the tower—the cocoons⁠‍‌ that created monsters‍⁠ were being destroyed⁠ by the Anti-Imperial‍⁠‍ Alliance.

Their‍⁠ faces were brimming⁠ with euphoria, believing‌ they had gained the upper hand.‍ What a pathetic⁠⁠⁠ expression.

Cedric⁠ despised them.

Without‍‍ understanding anything, they‌ behaved like monkeys, letting themselves be‍‍ swept along by‌‌ their emotions depending‍ on what was‌⁠ right before them.⁠‍

The‍‌ human race was‌‌⁠ far too imperfect.‌⁠

“Well, it’s time to⁠‌ make our entrance,” Cedric said.

Whatever‌ the logic of⁠ action of the‍‍ god from another‍ world he had‍⁠ summoned, the contract‌ would be fulfilled.‍

First,⁠ he would eliminate⁠‍ those enemies.

The‌‍⁠ climax could wait.‌

Cedric⁠ rose.

“Cory.”‍‍

“Yes.”‍

“Let’s‌‍ go. Let’s greet‌ Yuri.”

Cory⁠ lifted his head.⁠

Beneath⁠⁠‍ the hood, his‌ deformed eyes lit⁠‍ up with life.

“Yes!”⁠⁠