Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 320: Faith (4)

Chapter 320: Faith (4)

‘What‍ the hell are⁠ you…?’

Momentarily losing consciousness, Yuri flinched at the⁠ unknown black magic⁠ radiating from Cedric⁠ and, by reflex,‍‌ swung his sword.⁠

Cedric’s⁠⁠ arm was severed.⁠‌

But‍‍‌ he only let⁠ out a laugh.

[Hahaha…]‍‍⁠

From‌‌ the severed section,⁠‌ tentacles sprouted, regenerating⁠‌ the limb. It‌‍ was no longer⁠‍⁠ a human arm.‍ The tentacle tissue⁠‌ twisted and rose‍‌ as if it⁠⁠⁠ were a living⁠‍ creature with its‌ own will.

Cedric floated in the⁠⁠ air.

Yuri swung Guilty once‌ more.

Cedric‍ raised a black‍ barrier, but Yuri‍ cut through it‌⁠ completely. The sword⁠ energy of the‍‌ Cut of the‍‌ soul and the‍ heart, imbued with⁠ chaos, was practically‍ a natural enemy⁠ of black magic.‍

Yuri,⁠‌ looking at the‍ vibrating ceiling, asked,‍⁠

‘What the hell are‌⁠ you trying to‌‍ do?’

[Curious?]

‘Cut⁠⁠ the nonsense.’

[No.]‌⁠

The‌⁠ state of the battle was obvious‍‍ to anyone watching.‌ No matter how⁠ much black magic Cedric unleashed, Yuri cut it all‍ down.

The‌‍‍ only reason Cedric‍ could endure was‍⁠⁠ the infinite mana‍ he possessed.

His‌ black magic, fueled⁠ by the sacrifice‌ of countless lives,‌ was as vast⁠ as the sea—unable⁠ to surpass Yuri’s⁠ sword, but never‍⁠‌ running dry.

Cedric⁠ continued spilling black⁠‍‌ magic while offering‍ his own body.⁠ Yuri gritted his‌⁠ teeth, cutting through⁠‌ it as he⁠ pressed the offensive.⁠⁠‌

Yuri‌ instinctively felt that‌⁠ something was happening.⁠

[Yuri.]‌

At that moment, his‍ body froze. Cedric⁠ had released an‌ intense surge of⁠⁠ black magic, binding‍‌⁠ him.

Yuri‌‍⁠ struggled to break⁠ free.

Cedric‌ spoke in a tone of reluctant‍⁠‍ admiration.

[Admit‌ it. Honestly, I never thought I’d⁠ say this. Yuri‌ Briol—you really…]

Cedric’s⁠‌ lips curved into a smile, a soft smile, as‌⁠ if recalling a happy childhood.

[I’ve‌ lost.]

He⁠‌ admitted defeat.

[I’ve‍ lost, Yuri.]

‘What⁠ kind of trick‍‌ is this?’

[It’s‍ no trick. It’s the truth.]

Still⁠‍ smiling faintly, Cedric‍⁠‌ recalled the past.‌‌ Gifted with an‌ extraordinarily brilliant mind,‍‌ he could remember‍‍ his entire life‌ from start to‌ finish in the‌ blink of an eye.

Born‍‌⁠ with overwhelming talent,‌‌ Cedric could not understand others. What‍⁠ was obvious to‌ him was invisible‌ to other humans.⁠

Therefore,‍ humanity, to Cedric,‍ was nothing more‍‌ than an inferior‌ species, a step⁠‍ below him.

If‌ he had not‍‌⁠ found the magic⁠ tome in the⁠ underground archives, he‍⁠ might have continued‌⁠ pretending to be the kind Cedric—only to end his‍‍ life before adulthood,‍ unable to endure‍ the disconnection.

But he found black‌⁠⁠ magic—the source of‍‌ infinite power. He‌‍ no longer had‌ to imitate the‌ monkeys while being surrounded by them.⁠

Instead,‌‌‍ he could become‌⁠ their master, giving‍⁠ them a new‌ world.

He⁠‍ would create a truly ‘human’ world.‌‌‍ Freedom was too‌‌ much for them.‍⁠

That‍ despicable species that‌ used violence against⁠ each other for‌ absurd reasons, and⁠ abandoned one another⁠ for fleeting pleasures,‍ would be placed‍ under his control.⁠‍‌

Unnecessary⁠ conflicts would disappear.⁠‌ Wars and famines⁠ born from collective⁠‌ greed and incompetence‌ would become nothing‍‌‌ but historical records.‌

And‍ perhaps, someday—

Those pathetic monkeys might‌ develop enough to‌‍ see what he‍‌⁠ saw.

The‍‍‌ sacrifices along the way were inevitable.‌⁠ Just as humans‍ do not care‌⁠ for the ants they step on,‍‍ Cedric saw humanity‍ as a simple‍‍ troop of monkeys.‌‍

If‌ sacrificing some could⁠ create a new‌‌ world, he would‌‌ gladly do it.⁠⁠

But‍⁠ then—

[Yuri, once you gave⁠ me joy, but now you give‌‌ me sadness.]

His‌‌ younger brother, Yuri‍‍ Briol, had appeared.‍‌ At first, Cedric’s‍⁠‍ interest in him was mild.

His⁠‍⁠ behavior was more‌‌ likable than other‌ monkeys. He enjoyed‌ mischief, was talented‌ with the sword,⁠ and possessed a natural charisma.

He‌⁠ could not see‌‍ what Cedric saw, but within the‍‌ world of monkeys,‍‍ he had the‍⁠⁠ potential to become‍ a great talent.‌

If⁠ Yuri joined the‌ new world Cedric⁠ envisioned, he could‌ even be useful.‌‌⁠ That was all‍ Yuri Briol represented⁠ to him.

But‍ at some point,‌‌‌ that changed.

For Cedric, who had⁠‍ never failed to⁠ predict something, Yuri‍⁠ Briol introduced uncertainty.‍‌ He disrupted his‍ plans again and⁠ again.

At‌‌‍ first, it was‌‍ fun.

It’s‍‌‍ more interesting when‌ an unpredictable factor⁠⁠ enters the game⁠ than knowing the⁠⁠‍ outcome from the‍‌ start. That’s why⁠⁠ humans, foolish as‌‍ they are, gamble—for that very thrill.‌

But,‌ little by little,‌ it escalated. Key pillars of his⁠‌ plans collapsed entirely.‌‌‍

It‌ all began with‌ the Allied Army.⁠⁠

The‌‌⁠ horde of eastern orcs that Cedric‍ had painstakingly gathered‍‌ was destroyed by‌‌ Yuri Briol.

If not for Yuri,⁠ the Allied Army⁠ would have failed,‌‍‌ and Okua would‌ have remained as‍ the conqueror of the east—a constant⁠⁠ threat to the⁠ continent and a valuable piece in⁠ Cedric’s hand.

After‌⁠ that, all the⁠‍ covert operations he‌‌‍ had initiated in various nations failed.‌‌

Foolish⁠ humans who could⁠‍ never unite were‍ now gathering under‍ a single banner.⁠

At⁠ the center of‌‍‌ it all was‍‍ his beloved younger‍ brother, Yuri Briol.‍

How long was he‌ supposed to tolerate‌ it? Cedric felt⁠‌ both joy and⁠ fear.

For‍⁠⁠ the first time⁠‍ in his life,‌ he bore the‍‌⁠ mark of failure.⁠ He might even‌‌ lose.

Deep‌⁠ down, that anxiety‍‌ began to take root.

Yuri‍‌‍ might, in the‍ end, be just‍‌ another monkey, but⁠ he was becoming‌ something Cedric could‍‌ not understand.

So‍‍‌ Cedric broke Laurent.⁠

He‌ wanted to see‌‌ how Yuri would‍‌ react if Laurent—whom‍‌ he cherished and⁠ who revered him—was⁠ ruined and thrown‍ into the abyss.‍‍‍

Would‍⁠ Yuri scream in‌‍ despair? Or, like other humans, would⁠‍ he despise and‍‍ reject Laurent? Was Yuri’s heart also‌‌ ruled by instinct,‍ rejecting the ugly‌‌⁠ and desiring only⁠ the beautiful and⁠⁠⁠ sweet?

But‍ the elven mage⁠ Inariel far exceeded‍⁠ Cedric’s expectations, and that plan failed.‌⁠

After⁠ that, everything collapsed‍‍ in rapid succession.⁠‍ The god from‍‌ another world left,⁠ and Cedric could⁠⁠ not stop the⁠ Anti-Empire Alliance.

Yuri‌ Briol, with an⁠⁠ unknown power, cut⁠‍ through all black‌ magic.

Just⁠‌ as he feared,‌ Yuri became an‌‌ unstoppable storm.

Now,⁠ Cedric believed he⁠‌‍ understood. His plans‌ had been too‍ precise.

That’s‌‌ why he lost.‌

Once‌ the impurity called Yuri was introduced,⁠‍ the perfect gears‍ of his machine⁠⁠ were completely shattered.‌‍ That’s why he‌ lost.

At‌⁠ this point, Cedric began to think⁠ that perhaps his‍‍ defeat was inevitable.‍ The very fate⁠⁠ of the world⁠ had pushed things⁠‌⁠ toward this.

When‍ he tried to‍⁠ impose a new⁠⁠ order, humanity presented‍⁠ Yuri Briol as‌ its champion, fighting⁠⁠ to prolong its‍‍⁠ ugly and stubborn‍ history.

That‌⁠‌ man was the‌⁠ will to survive‌⁠ of humanity itself.‌

Seeing⁠⁠ that struggle, Cedric⁠ felt repulsion.

Why‌ were these hordes⁠ of monkeys so‍⁠⁠ persistent? Even in⁠⁠⁠ the face of⁠ countless injustices, tragedies,‌‍ and madness they‌⁠ created, the world⁠⁠ still favored them.⁠

Following⁠ to the end⁠ without falling, and⁠ even stabbing him‍‍ with a sword—there⁠‌ was Yuri Briol.‌⁠‍

Cedric felt something close‌⁠ to despair.

He‌‌ had to admit⁠⁠⁠ it now.

[Yes. I’ve lost.]

Lose.

He‌ had lost.

But his plan would⁠ not fail.

Because—⁠⁠

[But‌⁠‍ still, you also⁠‌‌ lost, Yuri Briol.]‌⁠⁠

If‍ he could not have it, he‍‍ would destroy it.

Cedric‌ looked up toward‍ the core of⁠ darkness he had‍ forged by gathering‌ all the life force he had⁠‌‍ accumulated, the cursed‌‌ artifacts, and the⁠ demonic grimoire.

That‍ was his essence‌ and the quintessence‌⁠ of black magic.‍

Cedric‌‍⁠ decided to execute‍‍‍ the final plan‍‍ he had prepared‍ for an eventuality.‌⁠‍ He was going‍⁠ to open the⁠ Outer Space Gate.⁠‌

When‌ he made the⁠ contract with the‍⁠ god from another‍ world, he had‌ only opened a crack through which⁠ he extended his hand. That delicate‍ work required an immense expenditure of mental and magical‌ power.

But‍ simply opening the⁠‌ passage was different.‍ It was enough‌ to use the‌⁠⁠ accumulated black magic⁠ to forcibly smash‌ the gate open.‍‌⁠

Then,⁠‌ the surface would‍ be connected to⁠‌‍ outer space and directly exposed to⁠ entities from another‌ world.

[I’m‍⁠ going to destroy⁠ everything.]

Yuri‍ seemed to understand‍ his intention, and‌⁠‍ his face tightened.‍⁠

“Why‍ go so far?”‍

[Hahahahaha…]‍

Cedric‍ let out a laugh. For the‌⁠ first time, he⁠‍ felt he had⁠ landed a blow⁠‍ on Yuri Briol.‌

He⁠⁠‌ continued in a mocking tone.

[I’m‍ going to open⁠‍ the Outer Space‌‌⁠ Gate. Then, those‍ horrible things will descend to the‍‍ surface. Empty inside,‌‌ they will devour‍ human lives with‍ the same eagerness⁠ as an ogre⁠ devours meat.]

“You‍ damned lunatic…”

[No,‍⁠ I’m not crazy.‍ The crazy ones‌ are you.]

Cedric spread both arms.⁠‌‍ His core began⁠ to vibrate, distorting⁠‍ the ground.

[With⁠‍ such an absurd⁠ world, you live‌ as if there‍⁠ were no problem‌ at all. The crazy ones are⁠‍ you.]

“Cedric,‌ calm down. If‌ you do that,⁠ you’ll die too.”⁠‌⁠

[No,‍ I won’t die.]‍‌

Cedric‌‍ smiled sideways and‌‍ let out a broken laugh.

[The⁠ underground city I built cannot be‍ invaded by the‌⁠ entities from outer space. The Gate⁠‍⁠ will remain open for perhaps a hundred or two‍ hundred years. They‌ will take care⁠ of wiping out‍‍‌ the humans for‍ me, and in‌⁠ that time, I will prepare. When‍ the time comes,‍ I will go‌ up to the‍ purified surface and create a new‍ world. Don’t worry, I will select‍‌‍ the human seeds⁠ and keep them under my care.]⁠

Cedric‌‍‌ smiled broadly. He‍ had not expected‍ to use his⁠‍ plan for this.‌‍

Since‌ he had not‌⁠ considered defeat, he⁠‌‍ believed there was⁠ no need to⁠‌ go to this‍ extreme. However, his‍ mind, capable of‌ devising plans with‍ plenty of room,‌ had calculated even‌⁠ the unnecessary steps.⁠⁠⁠

He⁠‍ would open the‍ Outer Space Gate.‍

Dimensional‍ rifts had the⁠ ability to close⁠ on their own,‍‍ so, in time,‌‌ the gate would‍⁠ close and those‍‌ creatures would return‌ to the void.

The‌‍⁠ entities of the⁠‌ void craved humans.‌ Plants and animals,‌‍ due to their‍ low category of existence, did not‌ arouse the interest⁠ of the gods‌‌ from other worlds.

Only‌ humans.

The creatures of the‍⁠ void would completely⁠⁠ devour that despicable‍ and miserable species‌⁠⁠ that this world⁠‍ inexplicably favored.

[Better‌‌ this way. Let’s‍ start from zero.⁠‍ This world was‌ wrong from the⁠ start, so rebuilding‌ it from the⁠ beginning is the right thing to‍‍⁠ do.]

The⁠‌‌ ceiling of the‍‍ underground city opened.‍ The infinite energy‌ of the core‍ caused an earthquake,‍‌ cracking the ground.‍⁠‍

Cedric,‍‌ along with the⁠ core, began to‍ slowly ascend toward‍‍‌ the surface.

“Cedric!”

Yuri‍ lunged at him,‌ swinging his sword⁠ without rest. His⁠‌ body was disintegrating.‌‍⁠

But⁠ Cedric did not⁠‍ flinch.

He⁠ could not defeat‌ Yuri in combat.‍‌ As incredible as‌ it seemed, his‍⁠ brother had obtained‌‌⁠ an extraordinary power,‍‌ capable even of‍⁠ cutting the intangible.‌⁠ That was why‌ he focused on‌ dividing and altering‍ his existence to‍ divert Yuri’s attacks.⁠‌⁠

He‍‌ could hold out‍‍ like this.

He‌‌ had lost, but‌‌ Yuri would also⁠⁠ lose.

[Hahahahahahahaha…]

His‍ laughter echoed loudly⁠ through the underground‌⁠‍ city. Suddenly, a thought crossed his‍‌ mind.

Until⁠ now, his life⁠‍ had been nothing‌‍ but tedium, but⁠‌‌ Yuri had changed‌ it.

When he died, the⁠ world would be‌ more perfect, but‍⁠‌ Cedric would once‌ again be a victim of deep‍‌ boredom.

So,‍‌ destroying and remaking‌ the surface seemed‌ a fair tribute to commemorate Yuri.‌

Thinking‍ that he would‍⁠‍ never see him⁠‍ again, Cedric felt⁠‌⁠ a strange brotherhood.‌

He‌ reached his hand‍ toward Yuri.

[Yuri.]

“Shut‌ up!”

Cedric‌ watched him swing⁠‌ his sword.

Yuri⁠ Briol.

Sweaty, gritting his teeth,⁠⁠ never giving up,‍‌ and with eyes‍ alight with determination,‌‌ as always.

He‌‌ was beautiful.

Cedric⁠‍ understood.

He could not understand⁠⁠‌ those monkeys in⁠ human form, and⁠ they could not‌ understand him.

But‍‌‍ Yuri was different.‍

He‌ was a third‍‌ kind of existence,‌ different from both⁠‍ him and the monkeys.

[Yuri,⁠‌ my brother.]

Cedric⁠ stroked Yuri’s cheek.⁠⁠ Even though Guilty‍ was cutting his⁠ body and soul‍ dozens, hundreds of times per second,‌⁠ Cedric smiled even⁠ more.

[I’m⁠‌ glad I met⁠ you.]

No‌‌⁠ matter how strong⁠ Yuri was, he‍⁠ could not survive‍ if the Gate‍⁠ opened.

The⁠‌ god from another⁠‌ world he had‍ summoned was only‍‌⁠ a part of⁠ the void.

Outside, there were countless‌‌ beings far more⁠ powerful and vast.‍⁠

[Let’s⁠ end this.]

The⁠ powerful current of‌‍ air created by‍⁠‍ Cedric enveloped Yuri‍ and dragged him‌⁠ toward the rift.⁠‍

Upon⁠ reaching the surface,‍ Cedric pushed him‍⁠ away.

Yuri,⁠‌‍ who had never⁠ stopped aiming his‌ sword at him,⁠⁠ was hurled far‌‍ by the whirlwind.⁠‌

[Haa…]‌⁠⁠

Cedric⁠⁠ set foot on‍⁠ the ground. He felt many eyes‍ upon him.

He⁠ was surprised to‍‌ recognize that Yuri⁠‍ had gathered so⁠ many humans and powerful individuals.

Instantly,‍‌ he resumed his⁠ magical power.

The⁠‍ humans tried to⁠‌ attack him, but⁠‌ his barrier blocked‌ any approach.

[It‌ won’t take long.]‍

He‌ saw the twisted⁠⁠ faces looking at‌ him. That crowd,⁠ in unison, yearned‌⁠ for his death.‌‍‍

That‍⁠‍ hatred seemed to‌ him proof that‍⁠‍ his decision was‌ correct.

One⁠‍⁠ hundred, two hundred‍ years.

Perhaps⁠ more.

It⁠ would not be‍⁠‌ too much.

Thinking‍⁠ of the new⁠ world he would create, he raised‍ his hands. His⁠‍ core ascended to‌⁠‌ the sky, eclipsing‌ the sun.

What‌ in the underground⁠‌ city was another⁠ sun, on the‌‌‌ surface was a mantle of darkness.

An‍ eclipse covered the⁠⁠‍ world.

In⁠‍ that moment of‌ greatest fervor, his⁠⁠ core sent out‌⁠ waves of magic‍ that struck the‌‌⁠ Outer Space Gate.‍

The⁠ sky trembled.

Cracks‌ began to appear.‍

The⁠ wall separating the world from outer‍ space was beginning‌ to collapse.

Almost⁠ there.

Cedric‌‍ counted in his‍⁠⁠ mind.

One.‍

Two.‌‌

Three…⁠

Then,‌⁠ in that instant—⁠‍

Someone⁠‌‌ was at his‍⁠ side.

[Cory?]‌‍

Small,‌⁠ hunched, limping, his‍⁠‌ back even more‌ bent in recent‌ times, his figure was even more‍ deformed.

Ah,‌ yes, he was‍‌‍ there. The repugnant being who found‍⁠⁠ pure joy in‍⁠‍ gazing at the‍ deformed Laurent.

Never⁠‌ had he seen‍ such a pure‌ feeling.

Cedric‌ even felt astonishment.⁠‌‌

If humans were insignificant,⁠‍ perhaps Cory was‍ the purest manifestation‍‍ of humanity.

[Well‍ done, Cory. Come,‌⁠ come with me. Let’s go down‌‌⁠ to the underground.‍‍‍ When the cleansing‌‍ is done, we’ll⁠ build the new‌‌ world together. Just‌ as I promised⁠‍‍ you, in that⁠ world no one‌ will mock you⁠‍ for your ugliness.]‌

Cedric‍ extended his hand.‍‌‌

[Take‍‍‍ my hand, Cory.]‌‍‌

Cory’s‌⁠⁠ face twisted. His⁠ mouth contorted, his‌⁠ eyes deformed.

Although Cedric did not‍ understand much about‍ emotions, he recognized‌‌ that movement as a smile.

Cory‌‍ was smiling.

Then,‌‍ he replied.

“No.”‍

Cedric’s‍ eyes widened at⁠ the unexpected answer.⁠‌‍

‘I⁠ won’t follow you.’

[What‌ do you mean?]⁠‍

‘From‍ the beginning, I deceived you. I infiltrated to stop‌‍⁠ you. And if‍ you couldn’t make the contract with‌‌ the god from⁠ another world, it‍ was because I stopped you.’

[That’s⁠ impossible. You…]

“Me?”‍⁠‌

[You‌⁠‌ are, without a doubt…]

“What‌‍ am I?”

Cory‌‍ stared at him.

Cedric‌‌ felt a strange⁠⁠ sensation. It was‌‌‌ something unknown to⁠⁠ him.

If‍ Yuri Briol was⁠ a being who⁠ exceeded his expectations,‌⁠‌ at that instant,‍ Cory was something‌ he could not even predict.

The‌ unknown.

For‌ Cedric, a totally⁠‍ foreign sensation.

While‍ he remained stunned,‌ Cory smiled.

[Cedric.‍ Tell me.]

His‌‍ voice did not⁠‍ sound like an‌ actual sound.