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Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince Chapter 314: Rift (1)

Chapter 314: Rift (1)

Cedric‍ could not comprehend‌ this situation.

The‍‍ god from another​⁠‍ world had betrayed‌ him.

It‌‍⁠ was something impossible.‍‌

They⁠⁠ had made a contract putting their​ very existence as⁠​‌ collateral. That could⁠​​ not be broken,⁠ not even if​‍ one tried.

The⁠⁠‌ god from another​ world, who wandered‍ through the endless⁠ void, greedily desired​⁠‍ human life force,‍​​ and Cedric had​⁠ agreed to offer‌ him as many​ lives as he‍​ wanted.

That⁠⁠ was why he⁠ created Zveta.

He‌​ imprisoned humans in​‍‍ a pit and‍ held sacrifices to⁠‌‌ offer their lives.⁠

There​⁠⁠ had not been⁠ even the slightest⁠ shortage in the‍⁠‍ quantity the god⁠‌ demanded.

Then,‍⁠​ why?

“Why‌ the hell did​ he betray me,‍​ and why is‌ he still intact?”‌

He​ could not understand⁠‍‌ it.

If‍‍ the god from‌⁠ another world had​ betrayed him, he​⁠‌ should pay the‌ price. However, he⁠‍ had returned without​ issue to the⁠​‌ outer space.

Annoying.⁠‌

There⁠​‍ was a time‍‍ when that feeling​​‍ had seemed refreshing​‍‍ to him. But⁠‍‌ now, it truly⁠​ irritated him.

“Yuri‍ Briol.”

It‍ had to be​‌ because of that‌​ man.

Every‌ time he was‌ involved, everything went‌ wrong.

Before,‌⁠ at least, it‍ had been manageable.​⁠‌ He had even‍ enjoyed facing an‌‍‌ opponent who did​ not move according⁠ to his will.⁠‍⁠

For‍ him, everything had⁠‍ always been far​ too easy, to‌​ the point of⁠ boredom.

Yuri⁠‍ had been like‌‌ a game given⁠ to him for⁠​‌ distraction. But now,‌ his patience had⁠​ run out.

He⁠ was no longer⁠‍ just interfering with⁠⁠‌ part of his⁠⁠ plan, but overturning‍ it completely.

Ever​ since that enormous​‌ group called the​ Anti-Imperial Union emerged,‌‍ the atmosphere had‍​ turned strange.

He⁠ had not thought​​ such an army‍​ could be formed,‍‍ so it had​ surprised him a little.

From‍ his perspective, those⁠​‌ monkeys in human⁠ form did not‌​​ have the intelligence⁠ nor the unity‌⁠ necessary to achieve⁠ it.

But‍​ Yuri had done⁠‍‌ it.

So‍ Cedric brought out‌⁠ an even greater​ weapon—the god from⁠‍ another world.

And​ now, even that⁠ had collapsed.

“Yuri‍⁠ Briol!”

Cedric‍ clenched his teeth‍ and shouted. Since​‌‌ he almost never‍ showed his emotions,‍⁠​ Eugen, who was‍‌ beside him, was​ greatly surprised.

“L-Lord‌ Cedric?”

“Damn‌‍⁠ it.”

“What⁠⁠ happened to the‍‌ god from another⁠ world…?”

“He’s⁠⁠ gone.”

“Can’t‍ you summon him​‍‍ again?”

“No.”⁠​

“Is​⁠‌ it because he​⁠ still hasn’t told‌ you his name?”‌‌

“Exactly.”⁠⁠⁠

“Ah…”​⁠

Connecting​ with an existence⁠ that wanders through⁠ the void is​⁠ nearly impossible. Even⁠ for Cedric, master⁠⁠ of black magic,‌​⁠ it was something‌‌ he had barely⁠‌ achieved after crafting⁠‍⁠ an orichalcum statue‍ and performing a long ritual.

To‌⁠ summon such a being again, one‌​ must know its‍‍ true name.

In​⁠⁠ the case of​ an entity that‍‍ wanders the void,‌ the true name‌ holds great significance.​

But⁠​ the god had​​⁠ not allowed him‌⁠⁠ that.

If‍ Cedric had completed⁠‍ the deal and​ received all the​ power, he would​ have been able​ to know it,‍ but with the​ contract broken, that‍⁠ was no longer‍‍​ possible.

In​ short—

“There​ is nothing more⁠‍‌ to expect from⁠ the god from‌‍ another world.”

Cedric​‌ stood.

He‍⁠‌ was in his‍⁠ private underground palace.⁠⁠ There he kept‍⁠ what was most‍‌‍ important to him.‍⁠⁠

“But⁠ it doesn’t matter.‌‌ I only summoned​⁠ him to achieve⁠​​ an overwhelming victory,​‌ but I can‍ win just as‍‌‍ well on my‌⁠‍ own.”

The‍ demonic grimoire.

It‍‌‌ existed.

Although‍‌‍ he had used​‍​ its pages to⁠‌⁠ sow chaos across‍ the continent, the‍⁠ black magic of‍‍​ the original had‌ not weakened in⁠ the slightest.

On​ the contrary, it​ had been imbued‍ with a deeper⁠⁠ darkness by absorbing‍ the overflowing pain‌ and hatred in‌‍ the world.

Until​⁠ then, the very‍ destruction of the⁠ continent had been⁠⁠ food for the‍‍ demonic grimoire.

Heir⁠​ to black magic⁠ and owner of⁠ the demonic grimoire—Cedric⁠‌⁠ Briol.

He‍‍​ had never thought‌ he could be‍‌ defeated. Not even⁠‍⁠ now that the‌​‍ god from another⁠‍ world had abandoned‌⁠ him.

He​‌ still held in⁠‌ his hands the‌‌ most dangerous thing⁠‌ in human history.⁠‌

“All⁠ who have possessed‍ this have become‌ lunatics.”

Cedric‌⁠⁠ left the main​‍⁠ hall and made​ his way to‍‌‌ the center of‍‍‍ his underground palace,​⁠ where the demonic‍⁠ grimoire was kept.‍⁠‍

A thick, black book.​​‍

On⁠‌⁠ the altar made​‌‍ of human bones,‌‍ covered with a cloth sewn from⁠ human skin on‌ which the facial​‌ features were intact,‍ as if screaming,‌‍‌ rested the demonic‌​‌ grimoire.

The​ black magic was​⁠​ so intense that⁠ the bones of⁠ the dead chattered‍⁠ and moved.

Eugen⁠ could no longer​⁠ endure its presence‍‍⁠ and stepped back.​‌

Cedric,‌‌⁠ on the other‌⁠ hand, advanced quickly,‍⁠‍ as if facing‍‌ something he greatly​‌ longed for. His​‍ expression softened.

“Ah…”⁠⁠⁠

When​​‌ he had discovered⁠ the demonic grimoire⁠ in the underground‍ of the royal‍‍​ palace of Briol,⁠‍ fascination had overwhelmed⁠‌‍ him.

If‍ he could offer‌ those monkeys in‌ human form as⁠ sacrifices to create‍‌‌ a more perfect‌‍ world, he would‍ do so without⁠ hesitation.

Cedric‌​ took the grimoire⁠⁠⁠ with both hands.‍‍

Madness‌⁠ flooded him.

His‍ mind was dyed‌‍⁠ red.

“Haa…”‌‌

An‍⁠ ordinary human would⁠‍ go insane instantly‌‌‍ upon touching it,⁠⁠ but not him.⁠​‌

He‍ understood the demonic⁠ grimoire perfectly, so‍ far from being​‌ lost, he could‌‍​ evolve into a higher being.

While​ mastering the overflowing‍ magic, Cedric turned​ around.

Eugen‌ was prostrate.

“Eugen.”​

“Yes.”​⁠⁠

“Come‌ here.”

“I…‌ I do not⁠‌‌ dare…”

Not⁠​ even this situation,‌ in which the⁠ crown prince of‌‌ the Empire was⁠​‍ bowing to him,‍ stirred any emotion⁠‍‌ in him.

The⁠‍ power relations of⁠⁠‌ monkeys meant nothing⁠‌​ to him.

He⁠​ was going to‌⁠ set everything in‍ order.

“Come.”‌‍

“Yes.”‍‌

Eugen‍‍ approached cautiously, still​ keeping his back⁠‍⁠ deeply bent. Cedric‌ placed a hand‍​ on his head​​​ and, in a voice as if‍‌ caressing him, said:​⁠

“Well‌​⁠ done.”

“Huh?”‍‍

“I⁠ will give you‍⁠ a reward.”

“Thank⁠‌‍ you.”

“Raise‌‌​ your head.”

“Yes.”⁠

“The​‍ reward I will‌​ give you is…”‌​‍

Cedric‍​ smiled.

“The‌​⁠ privilege of serving‍ me forever.”

“Huh?”⁠⁠⁠

At​ the same time⁠ Eugen’s eyes widened,​⁠​ Cedric’s hand closed‌⁠‌ around his neck.​⁠

Eugen,​‍ startled, tried to‍ stop Cedric’s hand,‌ but as if‍⁠⁠ he had committed‌‍‌ a great offense,⁠‌‌ he stopped, trembling.​​

“Ahhh…”‌‍​

“Aren’t​⁠​ you happy?”

“P-please…⁠ Lord Cedric…”

“Eugen.‍⁠​ For a monkey,​⁠ you were useful.‌⁠⁠ I mean, foolish​ enough to be​⁠ easy to use.”‌⁠‌

From⁠‌​ Cedric’s hand, black⁠ mist began to⁠‌ emanate, corroding Eugen’s⁠ body.

Eugen⁠‌‌ opened his mouth‍ wide, but no‍​ sound came out.⁠⁠‌ He writhed desperately.⁠‌

“Offering⁠‍ the soul of‌​ a crown prince‍​ is of great⁠ help.”

Not⁠‌ only his healthy​ body or his​‍ excellent sword skills,‍‍⁠ but also his​ symbolic status as‍​⁠ crown prince had‌‍ great value as⁠ a sacrifice for​ black magic.

Cedric‍​‌ felt denser magic​​ than ever and‌⁠ offered it to‌⁠ the demonic grimoire.‌

Upon⁠​ receiving the offering‍⁠ of an heir​‌​ to the Empire,⁠​‌ the grimoire was​ filled with joy‌ and transformed that⁠ energy into demonic‍ magic.

Cedric‌⁠ raised the grimoire⁠​​ with both hands.⁠​‍ The black magic‍ flowed into him.⁠‌

He​‌⁠ felt a momentary⁠​‌ dizziness, but soon⁠‌ calmed down. Cedric‌‌ smiled. For him,‌‍ that sensation was‍‍ all too familiar.​​

“Good.”​​

His‍​ voice once again⁠​‌ took on laughter.‍⁠⁠

Even‍‍ if the god⁠ from another world‍⁠ had left, that⁠ did not change‍ the outcome.

He​​‍ had sought the​​⁠ power of the⁠‌⁠ outer universe to‍ achieve overwhelming victory​‍ and absolute dominion,⁠‍‍ but even with​‌⁠ only the demonic‍ grimoire he possessed,‌‍‍ he would have⁠⁠ no problem exterminating‍⁠‌ the Anti-Imperial Alliance—that‌‍ pack of monkeys—and‍ creating a new​ world.

Cedric⁠‍‌ murmured the name⁠‌ of his dear​‍‍ younger brother.

“Yuri​​ Briol.”

The​‍​ voice with which‌⁠‍ Cedric spoke that‍‍ name no longer‍​ held any warmth.‍⁠

It​⁠ was his way‌‌‌ of acknowledging that‌ until now he‌ had been an‌‌​ adorable younger brother,‍ but now he‌⁠​ had become his‍⁠ one and true⁠​⁠ enemy in this​‍ world.

He​⁠⁠ would kill him‍​‍ without fail.

“I‍ suppose we’ll have⁠⁠⁠ to decide who‌‍‌ is right.”

Cedric​ spread his arms.​​

The‌ demonic grimoire floated‌‍‌ in the air,‌ stopped in front‌⁠‌ of his chest,⁠ pierced his clothes,‌⁠ and merged into​⁠ him as if⁠ it had no​ physical form.

From‍‌ all the orifices​‍‌ of Cedric’s body,‍‍ black mist began⁠‍​ to emerge.

[Ha,⁠‍⁠ ha…]

His‍‍ voice became strange,‌⁠‌ as if two‍‌ voices overlapped—one his​ original, and the‌ other rough and​ deep.

Cedric’s‍​ body rose.

When‍‌ he was about⁠⁠ to fly toward​​ the underground ceiling—⁠‌‍

“Lord‍‍ Cedric.”

A voice echoed.

Cedric’s⁠ gaze shifted.

“I-I⁠ will go with​‌ you.”

[Cory.]‍

Cedric⁠‌​ smiled faintly. His⁠⁠‌ body settled back​‌ onto the ground.‌

“What​ were you doing?”⁠‌‍

“I-I…”‍‌​

“I⁠ see.”

“Sometimes…⁠ I was in‌⁠ the laboratory…”

“Hehehe…”‍‍‌

“Yes…”⁠‍‌

“Good.‍‌ There are no‌‍ rules to the​‍ game. Pleasure is‍ for whenever one‌ desires.”

“Yes.”​

His​ gaze swept over‌ Cory from head‍‍‌ to toe—a small‍ body, a limp‌ leg, an unpleasant⁠⁠ appearance, but with⁠ a Dragon Voice‌​‌ Organ inside.

What‌ kind of magic⁠ would he gain‌ if he kept‌ him? Looking at⁠​‍ him like prey,‍ Cedric turned his​ gaze away.

Unlike‌ Eugen, Cory did‍⁠⁠ have use.

Now⁠​⁠ that his inside⁠ was as deformed‌​​ as his outside,‌​​ he could exploit‍ him in many​⁠‍ ways.

“Cory.”​​

“Yes?”‌​​

“When‍​ this war ends​ and a new​⁠ world opens…”

“Yes…⁠‌​ hehehe…”

“You‍‍ will be my‌‌ lieutenant. Second in​ command.”

“R-really?”​⁠

“That’s‌ right. You will​ be able to‍​⁠ do whatever you​‍ want.”

“T-thank⁠‍ you.”

Cory⁠‍‍ prostrated himself on⁠ the ground.

While​ looking at his⁠ small nape, Cedric‍ continued.

“But​‌ first, we must⁠ get rid of‌‌‍ the trash on‌ the surface. Cory,⁠ will you help‌ me?”

“Yes!”‍‍

“Will​⁠‍ you help me⁠‍ kill Yuri Briol?”​‌⁠

“Of​ course!”

Cory‌ did not hesitate⁠ in the slightest.​​

Cedric‍​‌ smiled in satisfaction.‍​‌ During his stay⁠‍‍ in Zveta, Cory​ had completely sunk⁠​​ into darkness.

“Good.”‌

Cedric⁠ extended his hand‌ toward Cory.

“Take​‌‌ my hand, Cory.”​⁠

“Aah…”‍

For‌​⁠ those corrupted by‍​ black magic, shaking⁠ Cedric’s hand was‍‍‌ an act of‌ great significance.

Cory,⁠ moved, lowered his‌ head and reached​ out his hesitant⁠ hand.

“T-thank‌​ you.”

Cory’s​ hand, deformed as‍‌ if burned, contrasted⁠‍ with Cedric’s, white‍ and clean.

The​ two hands, so‌ different, clasped.

“Cory.”‍​

“Yes.”‍

“This​‍‌ world must have‍ tormented you.”

“I-I…”‍‍

“Those‍‍‍ who were no⁠‍‍ different from you‍​ hated you just‌‌‍ for your appearance.”‍

“Yes…”‍​

“The⁠‌ world I will​‌​ create will be​‌ different.”

Then,‍‍ darkness enveloped their⁠ bodies.

“I​​⁠ will give you⁠‌ a magnificent new‍ world.”

And‍ thus, their figures​‍ vanished.

***‍⁠

Yuri‍ approached the black‍ core that had​ been exposed in​ the melted body‍⁠ of the monster.‍‌

From⁠ it emanated an​⁠ intense dark energy.​⁠‍

“That‌‌‍ is…”

Yuri‍ extended Guilty to‍‌ sweep away the‍‌ remnants that had​‌‍ not yet completely‌ melted and speared⁠⁠⁠ the core on​‌‍ the tip of‍​⁠ his sword, throwing⁠ it at his⁠⁠‍ feet.

Inside​ the core was​‌⁠ a fragment of​⁠ parchment.

“A⁠ demonic grimoire.”

Yuri⁠⁠ summoned the power‍‌ of the Cut⁠ of the Soul‍‌ and the Heart⁠‌ and drove it‌⁠​ into the ground.‍​

The‍‍‌ blade pierced the⁠⁠‌ parchment.

As‌ if it were‌ its last attempt​ to resist, the​⁠‍ black energy writhed‍‌ violently, but it‌​ could not overcome‌​ the power of​​‌ the Cut of​ the Soul and‍ the Heart and⁠ disappeared.

The‌‍⁠ scream of the‍​ trapped resentment echoed⁠‌​ in the air.​‌

“Ugh…”‍

Those‍⁠​ nearby stepped back,‍‌ covering their ears.​⁠

“Are‍ you scared of‍ that?”

Yuri​ shredded the parchment‌⁠⁠ into pieces and‌⁠ said:

“Soon‍‍⁠ you will have​‌ to live through‍‍ something much worse,‍‌⁠ and you will‍‌⁠ see it with‌ your own eyes.”‍​

“I​ feel as if⁠ my head is‌‌ being torn apart…‌ Was that a demonic grimoire?”

“Yes.”‍⁠

Yuri‍ looked up.

“Right,‍⁠ Cedric?”

Everyone‍ flinched and drew‍ their swords upon‌ hearing it. At‌‍​ some point, Cedric‍⁠ had appeared.

He‌ looked no different‌‌‍ from when he‌⁠⁠ was in the‌​ palace of Briol,‍⁠‍ with glasses, a gentle smile, and‌‌ an upright posture.⁠

“That’s‍‌‍ right.”

Cedric​​‌ looked around.

The‌⁠​ knights of Briol​ shuddered when they​‌⁠ met his gaze.‌⁠‌

Despite⁠ the situation, he‌​ was identical to‌​‍ how they remembered‌⁠‍ him, which made‍⁠⁠ it all the‍⁠ more terrifying.

“Ha,‌​‍ ha…”

Cedric‌⁠ removed his glasses‌ and carefully put‍ them away.

“Yuri.”⁠‍

“Cedric.”​

“I‍‌‌ truly cherished you.”⁠⁠

“I‍⁠​ truly respected you.”‍​

“What⁠​‌ a pity…”

Cedric‌​​ extended his hands.‍​‍

“…That‌ I have to‍ kill you.”

“I⁠ don’t pity it​‍​ in the slightest.”‌​​

They⁠‌‍ both moved at‌‌‍ the same time.⁠

Cedric‍ brought his hands⁠⁠ together in a seal, and Yuri‍​ launched himself forward,‌⁠‍ pushing off the​‍‍ ground.

A roar shook the⁠​​ place.

The‌‌⁠ world cracked apart.‍‍

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