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Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince Chapter 319: Faith (3)

Chapter 319: Faith (3)

Cedric​‌ descended from the‍ ceiling and landed.‌

His​ figure became clearer.‌‌‍

Yuri‌‌⁠ could instinctively sense‍‌ that this was‌‍‍ the real Cedric.‍‌

The⁠‍ energy radiating from‌ him confirmed it‌⁠ beyond doubt.

The‌ Cedric he had⁠ seen on the‍​ surface, the one‌‌ constantly switching bodies,‌​ was nothing more​⁠‍ than an illusion.‌

The‌ true enemy who‍ mastered black magic,⁠ who had opened⁠ the door to‌‍ another world and⁠ brought chaos to‍​ the land, had‍‍‌ finally appeared before‌ Yuri.

“I‌​⁠ wanted to show​​‍ you this place.”​

Cedric‌⁠ spread both arms⁠‌⁠ wide.

“This⁠‌ will be the‌ center of the‍‍​ new world I’m‍‍ going to create.”⁠‍

Yuri⁠‌ smirked sarcastically.

“Shutting‍​ yourself away in⁠ a damp, moldy‍⁠ hole?”

“I‌​⁠ don’t like the⁠⁠⁠ sun. I can’t‍‍‌ control it.”

“What?”⁠‌

“I‌​ want to build‌​​ a city where⁠‍​ I can control⁠⁠‍ absolutely everything. The‌⁠ light, the temperature,⁠‌‍ even the flow‌‍ of the seasons.‌⁠​ It will be⁠⁠ perfect.”

“So‍⁠ that’s why you⁠ built a city​⁠⁠ where the sun‍​‌ can’t reach?”

“Exactly.”‌‍⁠

“You’re​ insane.”

“From‌​ the point of⁠ view of monkeys,⁠ it’s hard to‍​‌ understand humans. And⁠‍​ the reverse is‍‍ true as well.”⁠

“I’m​ sick of your‍‌ monkey stories.”

Yuri⁠ raised Guilty.

“Just‌‍ die with me,‌ bastard.”

“Before‍⁠ that…”

Cedric⁠ suddenly curved the‍⁠​ corner of his⁠⁠​ lips.

“How‍ does it feel?”⁠

“What‍ are you talking‌‌‌ about?”

“That‌ your little friend​​⁠ betrayed you.”

He‌‌​ clutched his stomach‍‌ as if unable​​⁠ to contain his‌⁠‌ laughter, then burst⁠ out laughing.

“You‌‌ fell for it?‌ You believed it?​​‌ You thought the⁠⁠​ whole world was​‍ on your side?‌​ Hahahahahaha…”

Cedric‍ raised his voice‌ even louder.

“I‍‍​ brought you here.‍⁠​ This is my​‍​ world. I told‌​ you, here I can do whatever⁠ I want. Admit‌​‍ it, Yuri. You’re⁠‌ strong, incredibly strong,‍‌‌ maybe as strong​​‍ as me. But⁠⁠⁠ not here. I thought about how⁠ to lure you‌‌ to this place…”‍‍‌

He‍​ pointed at Cory.‌⁠‌

“All​⁠‌ I had to‍ do was send‍⁠‍ Cory. Now Cory​​ is my loyal​ friend. How does⁠⁠ it feel, Yuri?⁠‍‍ To be betrayed?‌ You didn’t expect‌‌⁠ it, did you?”​‍

Yuri‍ stared at Cedric.​​‍ The man was‌ laughing as if‍ he were truly‌ enjoying himself.

“Cedric.”⁠⁠‍

“What?”⁠⁠

“Have​ you been really⁠‍‍ frustrated this whole‌ time?”

“What⁠‌ do you mean?”​‍

“I’m‌‌ guessing it pissed​‍ you off that‌‌ I kept slipping‌​‍ out of your‍ ‘brilliant predictions.’ I’d‌‍​ love to show‌​‌ you your idiotic⁠​​ smile in a mirror right now.”​​⁠

Cedric,‍ who had been‌‍ laughing without pause,​‍​ suddenly stopped.

“Yes,‍‍ I knew you’d​ say something like​​​ that.”

“Oh,​​ really?”

“Cory.”‍​⁠

Cedric⁠ called to Cory.‍

“Attack⁠ Yuri!”

But⁠ Cory didn’t move,‌​ only shifting his‍‌​ eyes.

“What’s‍ wrong? Hurry, attack‍‌‌ Yuri!”

“Cedric,‌‍ it’s the other‌‌ way around. Cory⁠​‌ tricked you.”

Yuri‍​ grinned broadly, taunting​ him.

“Cory‌‌​ never betrayed me.‍‌ He put himself⁠‍ under your command​‍ to sabotage you.”​

“What‍‍ nonsense is that?”‍‌

Cedric⁠‍​ shook his head.‌

“Yuri,​⁠ you’ve never really⁠ looked at that‍⁠ man. Because everyone‍⁠⁠ loves you, you⁠ have no idea‍⁠‍ how Cory feels,​⁠‌ being hated by‌​‍ everyone.”

“Oh,​‍ really?”

“Cory,‌​​ you say it.‍⁠‌ Whose side are​​‌ you on? Mine⁠ or Yuri’s?”

Cory‍ stepped back without⁠⁠ answering. Cedric slowly‌​​ nodded.

“I​ get it now.”‌

He‍⁠ ran a hand‌ through his hair​⁠ and smiled again.⁠

“That⁠​ pathetic little thing‍⁠⁠ is hesitating again.⁠‍‍ He’s afraid Yuri‍‌‍ might win, so​ he doesn’t dare‌‌ openly show whose⁠ side he’s on.‍⁠​ Just like a rat scurrying back​‍ and forth.”

“I…‍‍ I…”

“Cory,‌​⁠ I saw what‌ you feel. When​⁠‌ you saw a friend as ruined‍ and vile as​ yourself, you felt​‌ pure joy. I’ve⁠⁠‍ never seen such‍​​ a pure feeling.‍⁠‍ From anyone.”

Cedric​ nodded.

“I‍‌​ understand you, Cory.”‍‍⁠

Cory⁠‍ opened his mouth,​ but no sound​ came out. The‌ air around him‌ had frozen.

He​ couldn’t breathe, and‌ his face contorted.‌‍

“Cedric!”⁠

Yuri​⁠ rushed at him​ with Guilty.

Cedric‌​ snapped his fingers‍ briefly. Cory, who‌‌⁠ had been frozen‍ in place, was⁠⁠​ struck by something⁠ invisible and sent‌⁠ flying, crashing into⁠⁠‌ the ground.

Yuri‌⁠ accelerated even more.​‌​

“You⁠ bastard…!”

“Yes,‍‍ none of that‍‌ matters anymore.”

Cedric‌ spread both hands,⁠​‌ and a dark⁠ wave of black‌ energy surged toward‍ Yuri.

He‌​ rolled across the‍ ground to dodge⁠‌‍ it, then advanced​ and swung his⁠ sword.

The​ energy of The​‌ Cut of the‍ soul and the⁠ heart infused the‍‌ blade, shredding the‌​​ black magic protecting⁠ Cedric’s body and‌⁠‌ slicing its way‌ inside.

He‌‌⁠ hit him.

At‍ that moment, a powerful repulsive force​ hurled Yuri backward.⁠

“Kuh!”⁠‌

Yuri‌‌​ slid across the​ ground for several⁠ meters before using⁠‌‌ the momentum to⁠​ rise again.

Cedric​ was rising into‌‌ the air.

“From⁠​‍ the beginning, it’s​ always been about‌⁠ one thing, Yuri.​ I just had​ to kill you.”​

“And⁠​​ you think you‌‍‌ can?”

“I‍ watched you for⁠​‌ fun, and that‌‍ was my mistake.”‍

From⁠ a light embedded‌​‍ in the ceiling​‍‍ of the underground​ city, a luminous‍‍ pillar descended and‍ wrapped around Cedric.​​

Suspended‍‌‌ in the middle⁠⁠​ of the light,‍​ he spread his⁠⁠‌ arms.

From⁠​​ his back, dark​ strands like tentacles‌‌​ emerged, stretching in⁠‍‍ all directions.

[But‌ now that you’ve‌‍ come all the​‍ way here, it’s‍‌ over for you.]​‍

Yuri,‌ Guilty in hand,‌ looked from Cedric‍​​ to the light⁠‌‌ source.

He‍⁠​ knew destroying it‍‌‍ would be the⁠‌ only way to‍ seal Cedric forever.​⁠ But attacking it​ would be too⁠ difficult—too deep from‌ the surface, too⁠‌‍ high from underground.​

And⁠⁠‌ Cedric was surrounded‍‍‍ by a power‌‌​ that made him​ seem more invincible‍​⁠ than ever.

Yuri​⁠ gripped Guilty and‌ steadied his breathing.​​⁠

Then,‍⁠​ he smiled.

It​ was ridiculous for​⁠​ him to be​ calculating strategies at​​ this point.

His⁠​​ decision had been‌ made a long​​‍ time ago—on the​⁠ day he returned‍⁠‍ to the past…‌‌⁠ no, even before⁠‌ that.

When‍⁠​ he saw the​​‌ royal palace of‌ Briol burning, he⁠​ had thought he‍ would give up​​ anything if he‍ could change everything.⁠⁠​

He​‍ had already prepared⁠‌ himself mentally back‍‌ then.

And​⁠⁠ now, before him⁠ stood his mortal⁠‌‍ enemy, and in‍‍ his hand was‍‍ the sword to‍ kill him.
It⁠ didn’t matter how‌​‍ strong Cedric was.‍‍​

Yuri‌⁠⁠ inhaled deeply.

And​ exhaled.

Breathing‌⁠ was the foundation⁠‍⁠ of mana control.‍⁠⁠ Through it, he‌⁠ expelled all distractions⁠⁠‍ and useless thoughts.‍

He‍‍⁠ emptied himself of⁠ doubt and fear,‍ leaving room for⁠⁠ something new—pure determination‍ to kill Cedric.⁠​‍

From​ the depths of‍‍ his being, a bloodlust welled up,⁠ filling his mind‍‍ and body completely.⁠‍

He​⁠ crushed without mercy​‍​ the hesitation holding​‍ him back and⁠⁠​ advanced.

Cedric​‍‌ watched him from⁠‍ above, his dark​ wings fluttering like⁠ some underworld god‍​ from mythology, ruler​ of the subterranean​ world.

Yuri‍ tapped Guilty’s hilt‌⁠ with his fingers.⁠​‌ In his mind,‌‌ he pictured Cedric​⁠ with his wings⁠ shredded, falling and‌⁠‍ crashing into the‍ ground, a sword‌ through him and‍‌​ blood gushing out,‌⁠ begging for his‍‌ life.

But‍‌ there would be‌⁠​ no mercy.

That‌ image became will,‍ and his core,⁠ responding to the‌​⁠ bloodlust, pumped mana‍ furiously.

Chaos.⁠⁠

The⁠ possibility of achieving‌‍⁠ anything. It covered⁠‌ Yuri’s entire body.‌

And​ then he vanished.‌

Even​ Cedric, floating high‌​ above, looked around⁠​‍ in confusion.

In‌‍ the underground city,‌⁠ he was practically⁠ a god. He​ didn’t believe Yuri‌‌ could deceive his​ senses.

He⁠⁠‌ opened his mouth‍ and called his‌ enemy’s name.

[Yuri?]‍​‌

The⁠‌ reply came instantly.‌

“Why?”⁠

Out​‌ of nowhere, Yuri‍‍ appeared behind Cedric.‍

[Huh?]‍‍

As​ Cedric let out‌‌ a sound of⁠ confusion and moved‍ his tentacles, Yuri’s‍​‌ sword slashed his​‌‌ back.

With⁠​ a metallic sound,‍​ Cedric let out‍ a scream.

“Kraaaaaaaah…!”‍‌‌

His​⁠ howl echoed through​⁠ the underground.

From‍‍ where his wings⁠‍ had been severed,​ a crimson darkness‌ gushed in thick‍⁠ torrents—redder than blood‌‍‌ and blacker than​ night, filling Yuri’s​‌ vision.

Even​⁠⁠ so, he didn’t‍ close his eyes.​‍‍ The black magic‍‌⁠ grazed his corneas,‌‍ but he didn’t‍​ look away. Even‌⁠‌ as the malignant⁠ energy invaded his​ nerves through the​ mucous membranes, he​ kept his fierce​ gaze fixed.

Without‍‌ losing sight of‌ his enemy, he​‌ swung Guilty again.⁠

Chaotic​‌ possibilities expanded and‌ collapsed endlessly. Yuri‌‍ seized the one​ he desired and⁠⁠‍ embedded it into‍ both himself and⁠ his enemy—maximizing the‌⁠‌ damage Cedric would‌ take while reducing‍‌ his own to​ nearly nothing.

Stepping‍ on the darkness​ Cedric spewed, Yuri​ launched himself into‌‌‌ the air.

Every⁠⁠‌ time the enemy⁠ tried to evade,‍⁠‌ Yuri was already​ there, waiting to⁠‌‍ pierce him.

Cedric’s​‍‍ body was impaled‍⁠ dozens, hundreds of⁠⁠ times. His contained‌⁠ life energy spilled‍ out in torrents.⁠

Cedric‍ screamed like it​‌ was a final‌​ death cry.

[Yuri⁠⁠ Briol!]

In​⁠ that moment, Yuri​⁠ could do anything.‌‌‍ With just a faint intent, a whirlwind of fractals​⁠ tore the enemy’s​‍⁠ body into pieces.‌

If‌‍‍ he felt him⁠ far away, he​ pierced him from​​⁠ a distance with‍‌ a cut that​ crossed space itself.⁠

“Die.”​

Yuri’s‌ speed surged.

No‍ matter how desperately‍⁠​ Cedric resisted, Yuri‌‌​ gave him no​‌​ room to breathe.⁠⁠‌ His chaotic power​‍ flared in unison​‌ again.

Not‌​​ even the smallest​‌ gap was left.⁠

He‌ drove Guilty into​ Cedric’s abdomen and‌ tried to tear⁠‍ him apart with‍​​ a whirlwind, but⁠​‍ black magic halted⁠ the rotation.

After‍ a moment of‌‍⁠ clashing force, Yuri‍​ used his other​‍​ fist to smash​​⁠ Cedric’s face. Then,‍⁠‌ he grabbed the​​⁠ wings that had‍ regrown.

“Cedric!”‍‌

With‌ a voice dripping⁠ with hatred, Yuri⁠⁠ shouted his name.‍‍⁠ Cedric also called‍⁠​ his, unleashing his‌ power.

White‍‌ and black energy​‌⁠ collided.

Even‌‍ in the midst‌ of that fierce⁠ clash, Yuri didn’t​​‌ let go. The‍ two of them‌‌ fell together to‌⁠‍ the underground floor,‍‍‍ and with a great crash, they‍​‍ were blasted apart‍‍ in opposite directions.‍‌

Rolling​‍ along the ground‍​ for a good⁠‌ distance, Yuri stood⁠ up again.

With⁠‌ the vision of‌ mental dominion, he​‍ immediately located Cedric.⁠⁠‍ Without hesitation, he‌‍‌ leapt toward him.⁠‌​

His‍‌​ battered muscles screamed‌‌‌ in pain, but​‌ Yuri ignored them.⁠ A broken body​​‍ meant nothing.

Before​‍⁠ Cedric could rise,‌‌ he stabbed Guilty⁠ into him again.‍

Cedric‍ let out another‌ groan.

“Is⁠​‌ that all?”

Yuri​‍ pulled the sword⁠​​ out and stabbed‍ again. Instead of‍ blood, crimson darkness‍⁠ kept pouring endlessly.‍⁠​

“Only​ this much, Cedric?”⁠​

It‌ was literally a slaughter. If he⁠ were an ordinary‌⁠ human, it would⁠ be impossible to‍ witness.

But‍‍‌ Cedric didn’t die.​‌‍ Even impaled, he⁠​‍ smiled.

[You’re‌‌ strong, Yuri. Even‍‌‍ I don’t know‍ the source of⁠ your power.]

“Shut‌ up and die.”​

[But,⁠ you know?]

Cedric‍ raised his hand.‍ Yuri cut off​​‍ his wrist. The​ hand fell to‍‌‍ the ground.

But‌‍​ immediately, another grew‌‌‍ in its place.​​

[I​‌ don’t lose.]

In‌ that instant, Yuri‍ was pulled toward‌ Cedric’s hand as​‍ if by a magnet. A massive‍‍ force dragged him.​

Cedric​ grabbed him by⁠‍ the neck. Yuri‍‌⁠ stabbed Guilty into⁠ his abdomen, but⁠‍ there was no⁠‍⁠ reaction.

His⁠​ body began to‍ rise into the‍⁠ air.

[Yuri.]​

“Damn‌‌ it…”

[Look‌ into my eyes.]⁠‍

“Don’t‍​ say nonsense…”

But‌ an invisible force​‌​ forced his head⁠ to turn.

He⁠ looked into Cedric’s‍‍ eyes.

In‍‍⁠ those black pupils,‍‌⁠ something stirred.

[Look‌⁠ at this.]

Yuri’s​ body froze. Through‍ his optic nerve,⁠ malignant magic pushed‍ its way in.‌‍

Unable‌ to resist, Yuri​ was forced to​​ receive the madness‍⁠ Cedric was conveying.‌

[Inside⁠​ me, there’s something‌⁠‌ like this.]

Within‌ were the scenes‍‌ of pain and‌‍​ death that the‍‌ demonic grimoire had⁠‍⁠ collected during its‌⁠‌ long wanderings on⁠ the surface.

It⁠ was seething resentment‌‍ in its purest‍ form.

The⁠⁠ demonic grimoire, by‌⁠ its very existence,‌ was a curse‍ upon humanity.

[Do⁠‌ you understand?]

Cedric’s⁠‌‍ pressure increased.

He​⁠⁠ didn’t heal his​​ wounds. His body,⁠​ torn apart by‍‌ sword strikes, was⁠‌‍ no different from​‍ the forms of‌‌ resentment reflected in⁠⁠ his pupils.

Pouring‍‍‌ out crimson magic⁠‍​ like blood, Cedric‌‍‌ smiled.

[I’ve‍‍‍ changed my mind.]‍‍‍

Cedric​‌ spoke forcefully.

[I’m⁠‍​ going to make⁠⁠ you suffer.]

At⁠​ that moment, the⁠ entire underground city⁠​ trembled.

The‍ ceiling began to‌‌‍ open.

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