Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 311: Demon (4)

Chapter 311: Demon (4)

Yuri‌ slashed the monster’s⁠ face with the Cut the Soul‍‌ and the Heart.

Then,‌⁠ the darkness blurred,‍ and the black‍⁠ magic energy began‍⁠ to fade.

However,⁠‍⁠ that wasn’t enough.‌

The‍⁠ void from the‌ other world couldn’t⁠⁠ be cut even‍ with his Cut‍⁠‌ the Soul and‍⁠ the Heart. Yuri‌ felt the massive‌ wave of power‍‌ approaching him and⁠ raised Guilty, taking‍ a defensive stance.⁠⁠

Yuri‍⁠ fixed his gaze‌‌ again on the‌‌ monster’s face.

Cedric‍‍ had said that‍‌ it was a manifestation formed from‍‌‍ the accumulation of⁠‍ humanity’s negativity.

But that statement was‍ wrong.

By‍ instinct, Yuri could correctly perceive the‌ scene unfolding before‍‍‌ his eyes.

“Cedric.”‍‌‍

He called out to⁠ his opponent.

“You’re‍⁠‍ wrong.”

At‍⁠ his words, Cedric⁠⁠‌ didn’t reply. Instead,⁠⁠ a wave of‌ black magic energy,⁠‍ filled with rage,‌⁠⁠ rushed toward him.‌⁠

Yuri⁠ raised Guilty.

He⁠‍ had obtained this‍ sword in the‍‌⁠ same place where‍‍ he had acquired‌ the Cut the‌⁠‍ Soul and the‌ Heart, taking it⁠ from a Death‌ Knight.

And⁠⁠ now, he was‌⁠ in the final‌ battle.

Perhaps⁠⁠⁠ both he and‌‍ Guilty had been‍ born for this‌ moment.

He⁠ no longer cared⁠ about his own‍ safety. At that‍ moment, he would have no complaints‍ if he died.‌‍ He only wanted‌‍ to finish Cedric,⁠⁠ even if it‌‍‍ meant consuming everything‍‍‍ he had left.‍⁠

With‍‍⁠ that resolve, he⁠‍ unleashed the Cut‌‌‍ the Soul and the Heart.

His body suffered an‍ overload, but he⁠‍ didn’t care. Yuri‍ pushed his core‌⁠ to limits it‌ had never reached.‌

Everything‌ became clear.

His senses, his mind,‌ and the state‌‍ of his body‌ sharpened.

Now‍ Cedric had fused⁠‍⁠ with the monster⁠‍ that had destroyed‍ the tower.

Tentacles⁠⁠ brimming with black‌ magic thrashed about,⁠ and an otherworldly‌‍ energy from the‌ outer cosmos spread‌⁠‌ out. The figure dancing atop the‍‌‍ creature’s shoulders was⁠‌ so insane that⁠ any ordinary human‌‌‌ would lose their‍ mind upon seeing⁠ it.

Yuri‍ charged toward his⁠‌ enemy.

The‌ monster now moved⁠ much more violently‍ than before.

Yuri could no longer‌‌‌ stay on its‍‍‌ shoulders, so he‍ stabbed his sword‍ into various parts⁠ of its body⁠‍‌ to keep his‌‌ footing.

The⁠ creature, though bleeding,‌⁠ didn’t stop attacking.⁠ Its stomps shook the ground, crushing⁠⁠⁠ Anti-Imperial Alliance soldiers‌ beneath.

It‍ was a tragic‌‍ sight, but Yuri‌⁠‌ focused only on⁠ killing it.

Each⁠ time Guilty struck‌ forward, thunder rumbled⁠‍ in the sky.‍

“Kraaaahhhhhh!”‍‌

The‍‌ monster roared and swung both arms‍ in all directions, targeting Yuri as⁠ he ran along⁠⁠ its body.

But‍ he dodged, keeping‌ his position. The‌‌ key to killing‍⁠⁠ it was the head. To attack‍‌ it, he had‍⁠ to stay on⁠⁠⁠ its shoulders and keep pressing forward.‍‍

He‌ felt a tentacle⁠ coil around his‍‌ leg and cut‌‌ it with Guilty.‌

A spray of blood⁠‍ burst from the⁠ wound.

“Tsk…”⁠‍

He⁠‍ glanced down. In‌‍ the meantime, the‌⁠‌ Anti-Imperial Alliance hadn’t⁠‌ been idle.

It‍⁠‍ was as if⁠ his fighting spirit⁠ had spread to‍ them—everyone was climbing⁠ the monster’s body⁠‍ without caring for⁠⁠ their lives, wounding‍ its surface.

Below⁠ his knees, the⁠ monster looked like‌ a hedgehog covered‍‍‍ in embedded weapons,⁠ and the troops used them as‍‍‌ footholds to climb‌ and tear at⁠ its flesh again with their swords.

It‍⁠ was like a swarm of ants‌‌ attacking a living being.

Yuri‌ ran toward the‌‌ monster’s face. A tentacle attacked again.⁠

He needed to cut⁠⁠ its neck.

But‍‍ the huge face‌‌ left no openings,‌⁠ and tentacles covered it entirely.

All‌ he could do⁠‍ was stay on⁠ its shoulders, without‍⁠‌ room to strike‌‌ further.

He⁠ coated Guilty’s blade⁠ with the Cut‌⁠⁠ the Soul and⁠‍ the Heart and‌ swung it in‌ all directions.

Then,‌ suddenly, he was‌ struck and pushed⁠ back. Gritting his teeth, he advanced again.

But⁠ once more he‍‍ was repelled by‌ a tentacle.

He slipped and nearly‌‌ fell from the‍⁠ monster’s body. He‌ held on by‍‌ stabbing his sword‍ in, but the⁠ tentacles kept hammering him.

Yuri⁠ moved unsteadily, like performing acrobatics atop‍ the creature.

Each‌‌ time he looked⁠ down, the height‍‍⁠ made his skin⁠ crawl, but he⁠ didn’t give in‍‍‍ to fear.

“Uaaaaaahhh!”

Suddenly,‍ a deafening roar⁠‍‍ came from below.‍⁠‌ Dozens of soldiers⁠ were pulling at⁠‍⁠ one of the⁠ monster’s legs.

Among‌ the swords jutting‍⁠ out like hedgehog‌‌ spines, human bodies clung to each‌⁠ other.

The humans fighting the‌ massive beast did‍⁠ so with absolute‍ desperation.

“Good.”‌

Motivated‌ by their courage,⁠‌ Yuri rushed toward‍‌ the monster’s head‌ and drove his‌ sword in.

This‌ time it worked.‍ The sword’s energy‍⁠ pierced through the‍ tentacle defenses and sank into the‌⁠ creature’s enormous face.‍

There‌ was no blood,⁠ but Yuri was certain his attack‍⁠ had an effect.‌

He‍‍ kept striking.

The‍‍‍ monster’s arms and⁠ tentacles lashed out‍⁠ to hit him,⁠‌‍ but he slipped‌‌ away like a fly, focusing only‌⁠ on its face.‍

Then,‍‍ a tentacle struck⁠‍‍ his back.

“Kuh!”⁠

He‍‍⁠ felt flesh tear‍ and blood flow.⁠‍ Yuri turned his head.

The‍ tentacle distorted until‌‍ it took human‍‍ form.

It was Cedric.

He⁠ looked at him‌⁠ and smiled calmly.‍

[Yuri.‌⁠ Your effort is admirable, but useless.]‍⁠‍

Cedric‌ spoke.

[It’s⁠‌‍ a meaningless desperate‍ struggle.]

Yuri‌ swung Guilty and⁠ cut him in⁠ two. It wasn’t‍ an illusion—it was‍⁠‍ his real body—so‌‌‍ his torso split⁠ and the upper‌‍ half fell.

“Be‌ honest. Something went‌ wrong, didn’t it?”‌‍

The‌ fallen torso replied.‌

[What?]‍‍

Yuri looked around.

The‍⁠ enemy was strong,‍ but not invincible.‍⁠ He no longer⁠ felt the overwhelming‍‍‌ terror from the‍‌‍ first time he⁠ sensed its presence.⁠

He‌‍ smirked.

“I⁠‌⁠ get the feeling‍ that god from‌‌⁠ another world is⁠‌ dissatisfied.”

[Yuri.‍‍ Stop saying what‍ you want to⁠ hear.]

“Bet⁠⁠‌ I’m right.”

[Not‍⁠ at all.]

Cedric‍ shook his head.‍

[Fine.‍⁠‍ When you see⁠⁠ your friends die,‍ you’ll stop talking‍ nonsense.]

His‍ figure vanished.

[I’ll‍ take care of‌‌⁠ that.]

At⁠⁠ that moment, the‍ monster began to move with uncontrollable⁠ fury. It stomped‍‌ the ground, crushing Anti-Imperial Alliance troops.‌

As⁠⁠ its body shook‌‍ violently, Yuri clung‍ to a tentacle⁠‍ to stay on.⁠⁠

He‌‌ looked down.

Each‍‌ time the creature’s‍⁠ foot touched the‍ ground, red blood‍‌ splattered. Crushed, mangled⁠‍⁠ corpses were embedded⁠⁠ in the earth.‍

The⁠ tentacle he held‌‍ turned into a mouth, carrying Cedric’s‌‌‍ words.

[Yuri,‌ all this is‌⁠ your fault.]

Then,‍ the tentacle suddenly‍ let go.

It⁠ was just as⁠ the monster thrashed⁠‌⁠ wildly. Yuri lost⁠⁠‌ his balance and⁠⁠ began to fall.

Several‍‌ tentacles erupted from‌ the creature’s body,‍⁠ aiming to pierce‍ him.

In⁠⁠ the air, his body spun like a top, bouncing off them and⁠ cutting them down.‍

He‌‌ immediately drove Guilty‍‌ into the monster’s⁠⁠‌ body—at the thigh‌ level.

He⁠‌ embedded the blade‌⁠ vertically and slid⁠ it down, carving‍ a long gash that slowed his⁠‍‌ fall.

Finally,‍‌ he stopped at⁠ the knee.

“Huff…”‌

He⁠ was drenched in‌‌‌ blood. Shaking his‌ head to clear⁠ it, he retrieved⁠‍ Guilty and leapt‍‍‌ toward the ground.‌

“Your Highness!”

“Are⁠‌‍ you alright?!”

From below, those still‍‍ fighting called out⁠ to him.

“I’m‍ fine.”

“Up‌‌ there…”

“I‌⁠ tried to cut‍ off its head,‌ but I failed.”

Even⁠‍ as they spoke,‍‍ the creature kept⁠ pounding the ground with tremendous force.⁠

Experts‌ like Yuri could⁠ dodge, but lower-ranked knights and ordinary‍‌ soldiers could only‌ rely on luck‌⁠ to survive.

Many died, reduced to‍⁠‌ pools of blood.⁠

“It’s‍ seriously too big,”⁠‌ Ainzer said as‌ he approached Yuri,‌‍ also covered in‍‍ blood from head‌ to toe.

“If‌‍ something like that‍ reached another country‍ and just walked‍ around…”

“It⁠‍ would be hell.”‌

Just‍‍ by walking, it‍‍‌ could massacre people.‌ And, like other‍‍ monsters, it regenerated its body with tentacles sprouting from⁠‌ its wounds.

There‌‍ was no clear⁠ method to kill‍ it.

Decapitation‍ was the only‍⁠ solution, but getting⁠⁠ that high was‌ far too difficult.

Yuri‌‍‍ fell into thought.⁠

“Your⁠ Highness?”

While⁠ he was lost‍‍ in thought, the⁠‍ monster’s enormous foot‌ cast a shadow‍ over his head.⁠‌ However, Yuri didn’t⁠‍⁠ move. His face⁠‌⁠ was that of⁠ someone deeply absorbed‍ in thought.

Ainzer⁠⁠‍ shouted,

“Your‍⁠ Highness!”

The⁠ instant the monster’s foot came down,‍ Yuri’s figure blurred.

In the blink of⁠ an eye, he⁠ was out of⁠ range, holding Ainzer’s body.

“You,‌ of all people,‌⁠ should retreat first—so‌ why are you shouting?”

“How⁠‌ could I leave‌‍ Your Highness behind…?”‌

“Don’t‍ worry, I can⁠‌ take care of myself.”

Yuri‍ spoke.

“Order⁠ everyone to retreat.”⁠‌‌

“Pardon?”⁠⁠

“Looks‌‍ like we’ll have⁠ to change tactics.”‍

Yuri‌⁠ looked up at⁠ the monster.

“Regular‌ troops won’t be‌ able to harm⁠‌‌ this thing.”

“No,‍ but if they‍ stab it like that—”

“It won’t even bother‌‌ with that.”

“Ugh…”‍

“The‌ effort was good,‍⁠ but it’s not‌ a meaningful attack.”‍⁠

Yuri‌⁠ relayed his thoughts⁠‍ to Ainzer.

“You‍ mean…?”

“Let’s withdraw for now—fall⁠⁠ back a bit,⁠ plan, and fight‍‌ again. Pull everyone‌ back.”

“You‌‍ think it’ll just‌⁠ let you go⁠⁠‍ like that?”

“Those⁠ who can hold‍ it back, will‌‌ hold it back.”‌

Of‌‌ course, Yuri was‍‌‌ referring to the Ten Greats. His‌‌ plan was for‌ them to gather‌⁠ and hinder the⁠‍‍ monster’s advance as‌‍ much as possible⁠⁠ while the troops⁠ withdrew. There was no point in⁠‌ continuing the fight like this.

The‌⁠ sun was beginning‌‌‌ to set.

He⁠ had wanted to finish it today,⁠⁠ but they would‌ hold out one‌‍ more day.

“Understood?”‍

“Yes.”‌

Ainzer⁠ nodded.

Even⁠⁠‍ if he didn’t⁠‍‌ fully grasp it,⁠‌ he always obeyed⁠ Yuri’s words. That‌‍ was simply how‌⁠‍ he operated.

Ainzer‍ gave the order to retreat. The‌⁠ troops began pulling‌ back slowly.

The‌ monster tried to‌ follow them with‍ massive strides, but‍⁠ Yuri stepped in its way.

In‌‍ terms of size,‍⁠ it was like‌ a fight between a human and⁠ an ant.

Even so, the sword⁠ energy emanating from⁠‍ Yuri far surpassed‍⁠ the scale of‍‌⁠ his own body.‌

Before‍‍⁠ long, Moyongchan, Francesco,‌ Jose, Bernard, along‌ with warriors from‌ the East, lined‍‍⁠ up beside Yuri⁠ to block the‍ monster.

The‌‌‌ formation was almost the same as⁠ the suicide squad‍‍‍ that had taken part in destroying‌‌ Zveta’s walls.

When‍ immense cutting energy‌ burst from their⁠ swords, the monster⁠‍‌ stopped for a moment.

“Your⁠ Highness, do you‌‍ really think we⁠ can beat something‍‌ like this?”

Jose‌⁠ asked in a trembling voice. He,‌ too, was in tatters after climbing‌‍⁠ the monster’s leg‌‍ and grappling with⁠‍ it.

Yuri‍‌‌ shrugged.

“I‍ don’t know. We’ll⁠⁠‍ find out when‌‌ we try.”

“A‌ reliable answer, hahahaha.”⁠

Jose‌‌ laughed.

“Yuri,‌ do you think⁠ your plan will work?”

Moyongchan‍‍ asked. Yuri shrugged again.

“We’ll‍ know when we⁠‌ test it.”

“Honestly…”⁠

“If‍ Sir Ainzer prepares‍ it well, it should work.”

Moyongchan‌‌ smirked.

“Fine.⁠ Let’s lure it.”⁠

Meanwhile,⁠‌ the monster lifted its foot again. Francesco snorted.

“You‌⁠⁠ think that stupid⁠ stomp will work‌ on us?”

“That’s⁠ what I’m saying…”

The‌‍ monster’s foot moved—but‌‍ this time, it‌‍ moved at incredible‍‌ speed.

Cries‌‌‍ of terror rang‌⁠ out among the‍ Eastern warriors. One‌⁠ was caught and‌ killed instantly.

The‍ spot where he‍⁠⁠ had been sank⁠‌ deeply, forming a crater. Not a trace of the‌‌⁠ body remained.

“This‍‌ isn’t like before.”⁠

“Damn⁠‍ it…”

The‍ monster lifted its⁠ foot again.

While‌‍ everyone else retreated,⁠ Yuri ran forward.‍

“We⁠ have to cling‍‍⁠ on first!”

Shouting,‌‌ Yuri grabbed the‌ monster’s shin and drove his sword⁠‍ into the surface‍ to anchor himself.‌ The others, realizing‍ his intent, changed⁠ direction and ran‌ toward the monster‍‍ again.

“Grab‌‍ on tight and‍ hold it down!”

They‌ all clung to⁠‍‌ the monster’s leg.‌ Even though it‌ thrashed violently, they‍‍⁠ didn’t let go.⁠

Stomping⁠ the ground did⁠⁠ nothing if it‍‌ didn’t have a target. Its efforts‍⁠ were in vain.‌

“It’s⁠⁠‍ the leech tactic.‍ Let’s hold out‍‌ for now.”