Indra Translations
Navigation
Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince Chapter 323: Victory

Chapter 323: Victory

A small, misshapen being,⁠‌ limping and so​‍ ugly it was‍‍⁠ difficult to look‌ into his eyes.​⁠‌

A half-orc despised by⁠ all.

The⁠‍‍ tiny spark he​⁠‍ had ignited.

With‌​ every span it⁠​ rose, it grew‌⁠⁠ in size, until‌ it filled the​⁠​ entire sky.

Since‍‍ the dawn of‍ civilization, had such‍‍ a colossal light‌⁠​ ever been artificially‍ created?

It‍ was so bright‌‍‍ it seemed like​ a second sun‌ in the firmament.‌​​ And yet, it⁠ did not blind.‍⁠

In‍⁠​ that moment, all⁠​⁠ of humanity gazed‍‍​ upon that radiance​‍ with their own​ eyes.

The⁠‌ darkness dissipated.

The⁠​‍ core of shadows‌⁠ that had devoured‌​ the sun, as‍ if refusing to​ vanish, shook violently‍​‌ in one final​‌ outburst of madness.‍

The‌ darkness rose.

Bursts‍‍‌ of shadow erupted‌ in all directions.‍⁠ The gates of⁠​​ the sky cracked‍ apart.

Beyond,​⁠‌ a glimpse appeared‌‌ of a being‌ impossible for the‍ human mind to​ conceive.

Cedric,​‍ raising his gaze,⁠ spoke.

“The⁠ stupid monkeys are‌⁠ making their final⁠​ desperate struggle.”

He⁠⁠​ clenched his fist⁠‍​ without realizing his‌​ hands were trembling.‌

“When⁠​‍ I crush even‌ your last hope,‍⁠ monkeys, it will‌‌‌ be fully proven⁠​ that I was​ right.”

Cedric‍‌​ extended both hands‍ toward the sky.‌‌‌

He​ squeezed out the‌ last drop of‌‌​ malice and attuned​ himself to the‍⁠‍ darkness in the‍⁠‌ firmament.

Light⁠ and darkness repelled​ one another.

Cedric‌⁠​ staked everything.

Even‍ the reserve of‍ mental power he‌⁠‌ always kept for​​‌ emergencies, he poured⁠​ into his black​⁠⁠ magic calculations.

A man who might‌​ have been the‌‍‌ greatest genius in⁠​ human history was⁠‌‍ offering everything he​⁠​ had for the⁠‍ annihilation of his​‌⁠ own species.

The⁠ darkness rose again.⁠‍‌

The⁠‍ opening in the‍ sky grew wider.​​

The⁠ shadow core, bristling‌ with tendrils, struck⁠‍ the vault of‌​ heaven like a raging beacon.

More​⁠ cracks opened.

But​‍ the light did‍​ not yield either,‍ scorching the darkness.​⁠‌

It​​‍ was a scene‌ worthy of myth.​‌

The‍⁠ darkness, though weaker‍ and weaker, fulfilled‌‌ its task until‌ the last second‍ before vanishing.

“Kh…”⁠

Cedric’s‍ eyes were bloodshot.​​

With‌‍​ veins bulging across‍⁠ his body and⁠‍ blood flowing from‍ all seven orifices,⁠ he sent more‍‌ mana into the​​‌ core of shadows.‍‌

The‌ cracks widened.

The​ light pressed harder.​⁠ And still, the‌​⁠ gate to outer⁠​‌ space opened little‍‍⁠ by little.

Cedric‌⁠ allowed himself a faint smile.

“Yes.‌‌‍ That’s all you⁠ can do…”

His‌⁠‌ words trembled.

“I‍‍ win. I win…”​⁠​

Then,​‍⁠ someone approached him.​​

Yuri⁠ Briol.

He​​ staggered forward, dragging‍​‍ his sword.

He‍​ passed by Cory,‌‍ unconscious on the​ ground, and stood⁠‌ before Cedric.

“This‌​ ends here, Cedric.”⁠‌

“No,​‍ this is just⁠‍ beginning.”

Cedric‌ forced a crooked‍ smile. He wiped‍ the blood clouding⁠‍ his vision and​⁠‌ opened his eyes​ with determination.

“I‌⁠ have already won.”‍‌

He⁠ unleashed his power.⁠

Immediately,​‍ the darkness burst,​​⁠ expanding and distorting‌⁠⁠ the light, spreading‌⁠ across the entire​ sky in an​​ instant.

But⁠​ it never managed‌​ to invade it.​⁠

Within​​​ seconds, the light‌ devoured it and​ extinguished it completely.‌

The‍‌ sun.

And⁠‌​ a radiant blue​‌⁠ sky.

They⁠ had returned.

However—‍‍

“Hahahaha…”‌‌⁠

Cedric⁠‍​ laughed.

“It’s‍​​ my victory, Yuri.”‍

He‌​ pointed upward.

In‌⁠ the sky, amid‍‍ the blue, a small black fissure⁠​ had opened. Through‌ it, the void​‍‌ seeped in.

Outer‌ space was descending.⁠ From beyond, a portion of a gigantic entity appeared‍‌ and then withdrew.​⁠

“All‍ it takes is​ one crack. The⁠ void cannot be⁠ stopped. Just like​‍ the human fate‍‌ of this species,​​ which survives only‍‍ precariously, it has‌‍ been doomed from‍⁠ the start. Every‌‍ minute and every​ second, it rushes‍‍ toward its self-destruction.‌⁠‌ I am here‌​‍ to prevent it.⁠​ And to create⁠⁠‌ a new world‌‌ where everything works⁠⁠ efficiently.”

Yuri‌​​ looked up.

High⁠‌‍ above, the void⁠​‍ was expanding.

Cedric​ reached his hands‌‌‍ toward the fissure.‍

“Now,‌ the void descends…”​⁠​

But‍‌ suddenly, the movement‍​⁠ beyond the crack​ stopped. The void‍‍ falling toward the⁠‌ earth and the‍​‍ entity stretching its​ tentacles vanished without‌​⁠ a trace.

The​‌⁠ opening was empty.‍‍

After​ a moment of⁠ silence, a gigantic​ eye appeared.

A familiar eye.

It‍ was Kruphpk, the‍ god from another​ world with whom⁠ Cedric had tried​​‍ to make a pact, and against‍⁠ whom Yuri had​‍ fought in the⁠ void for a long time.

The‍‌ gazes of the⁠ three crossed.

Blink.⁠​

Kruphpk’s​⁠ eye closed and‌ opened again.

The‌‌ crack shrank.

The⁠‍‍ connection to outer⁠​ space contracted to‌‍ a point and‌⁠‌ disappeared.

Then,‍‍ the sky—

A brilliant sun and‌ a clear blue‍‍ spread in all‌ their splendor. Not‌​ a trace of​​⁠ darkness remained.

“Ah…”‌

Cedric‍‍ collapsed.

“Ah…”​‍‍

And⁠‌⁠ began to laugh.⁠​

“Hahahahaha…”‌​

His⁠​‌ body trembled as⁠ he laughed.

“Hahahahahahaha…”​‍‍

After​ a while, he⁠ turned his head‍ toward Yuri. In‍ his black eyes,‍‍ there was nothing‌‍ left.

“How⁠‍ did you do‌‍‌ it?”

Yuri​​⁠ did not answer.‌⁠‍

Only,‌‌⁠ with his battered‌‍​ body, he dragged‌ Guilty until he‌⁠‍ stood before Cedric.⁠​⁠

He⁠ looked at his‌​‌ brother and gave⁠⁠‍ a serene smile.‌⁠

“Yes.‌ You have won,​​ Yuri.”

Cedric⁠‌‍ accepted his defeat.‍​‌

And,⁠ strangely, he did⁠ not feel bad.⁠‌‍ Out of habit,‍‌‍ he analyzed the‌ situation.

He‌‍ had lost everything‍ and was on⁠⁠‌ the verge of⁠‍‌ death. Then why⁠ did he feel⁠ so at peace?‌

Yuri,‍ with an impassive⁠ expression, asked him.​‌⁠

“Do‍ you cry too?”⁠‍

Cedric⁠​⁠ shuddered.

He‍ realized, too late,​‌‌ that he was​‌ crying. He did‍‍‌ not know why.‌

No​⁠ matter how much‍ he thought about‍‌⁠ it, he could‍‌ not find the‍‌ reason.

Yuri‍​‌ Briol.

And‍‌ Cory.

His‍ mind, which had⁠​ always found an​‌ answer, refused to‍‌‍ function before them.⁠​

It⁠ was like facing‌‌‌ a mystery impossible‌ to solve.

Then,​⁠‌ what was that?‌‍‌

Cedric​⁠ stared at Yuri.​​ A face similar‌⁠‍ to his own.‌

Eyes⁠‍‍ full of determination.⁠⁠

His​​⁠ brother.

“Ah.”⁠​

After‍‌ a brief exchange‍ of glances, Cedric‍‍⁠ understood something.

“Now⁠⁠⁠ I see.”

Cedric’s‌‌ eyes widened.

“Now⁠ I see. Now⁠⁠⁠ I see…”

Having​‍ lost everything, only​‌​ in his final‌​​ moment was Cedric‌‌ able to understand.‍⁠ He let out⁠ an empty laugh.​

It​​ was something so‍‌‍ simple.

Why‌ hadn’t he understood‌‍ it until now?‍‌

“In‌‍​ the end, I too was nothing​‌‍ more than a monkey…”

Yuri‌ Briol.

His​ dear younger brother,​‌⁠ who had ruined​⁠⁠ all his plans.​‍ He should have⁠ known from the​‌ start.

Why​ he had let‌‍ him live, despite​⁠​ knowing Yuri brought‍‍​ uncertainty. Why he​​ had kept him‌​ around as entertainment,​ even when his‌‍‍ first prediction failed.⁠‌‍

When​‍ he began to​‌ see him grow,‌‌‍ to feel uneasy.‍‍ When he sensed⁠​‍ that one day⁠​​ he would become⁠ his rival.

Even‍ knowing something was⁠‍ going wrong, he⁠ had felt a strange joy.

Now​​​ he seemed to‌​ understand the truth⁠ that lay deep‌⁠⁠ down, something even‌ he himself had​​⁠ not known.

“Yuri,​ I think the​⁠ monkey inside me‍⁠‍ wanted you to‍​​ stop me.”

“You’re‌‍ not a monkey.‌ You’re a human‌‍​ being.”

“A‍ human being…?”

Cedric​⁠ let out a laugh. Yuri was‌ raising his sword.‌​

The​⁠ blade shone brilliantly​‌ under the sunlight.⁠ Cedric saw the‌ mark of sin‌‌​ engraved on it.​‍⁠

「Guilty」‍​​

He⁠‌ wondered with what‌‍ feelings his brother​​‌ wielded that sword.‌‌

It⁠ didn’t matter.

“Yuri,⁠ my brother.”

The⁠ glow of the‌​ sword began to‍ descend.

Cedric⁠‌​ confessed.

“I‌ still despise human‍‍‌ imperfection.”

And‍‌‌ he closed his​ eyes.

In​ the darkness, he‌⁠​ saw something.

The⁠‌ first time he‍⁠​ met Yuri Briol,‍​⁠ his younger brother.​

Small,‌‌⁠ tiny, moving clumsily,⁠⁠⁠ even unpleasant.

Always‍​​ noisy.

When‍ that child insisted‌⁠​ on learning to⁠‌ fight with a wooden sword, Cedric‌‍‍ smiled and agreed‍⁠ to play with​⁠‌ him.

He‍⁠⁠ had talent with​ the sword. Perhaps‌ he could even​​ surpass him.

He,​ who did not‌ consider himself inferior⁠‍‌ to anyone, thought​ for the first​ time that, in‌‍ sword talent, that‌ little one might​‌‍ defeat him.

It​⁠⁠ was something surprising.⁠‌⁠

That‍ was why he​​‌ lifted his little⁠​ brother, who was​‍​ awkwardly wielding the‍‌ wooden sword, into‍‍‌ his arms.

Yuri‌‌ burst into pure​ laughter. There was⁠​‌ a day like‍ that.

And⁠‌⁠ that day, the⁠ sky was just⁠ as blue as‍ it was now.‌​​

Now‍‌​ he understood.

Cedric,⁠ with his eyes‍ closed, smiled radiantly.⁠

“Even​ so, you are‍‍​ still my joy.”⁠​

That‌ was the end​​ of Cedric.

***‌‍‍

Yuri’s​‌ sword pierced Cedric’s‍‍ chest.

He‌ smiled softly before‌⁠‌ collapsing.

The​‌⁠ blood that gushed‍‍​ out darkened, and​‍‌ from it sprouted‍‌⁠ black tentacles that⁠‍ devoured his body.​‍‌

In‍⁠​ no time, not‍ a single bone‌‍⁠ was left.

The⁠​ tentacles, as if⁠⁠ bursting with light,‌‌ spread and then‌⁠⁠ fell, disintegrating into​ ashes.

And‍​ there, where the‍ body had disappeared,‍ remained a single‌⁠ black book.

Yuri,​ who was about‍ to swing Guilty‌​ again, stopped. He​ remembered Cruar’s words⁠‌ — the demon‌⁠‌ grimoire must not‍ be cut.

Now⁠‌‍ he understood why.⁠‍​

The⁠‌ demon grimoire was‌ matter and, at⁠​ the same time,‍⁠ was not. A concept born from‍‌‍ centuries of hatred‍‌‌ and resentment wandering​‌ the earth.

Cutting‌‌‌ it would only​ add more hatred.⁠‌‍

It⁠‌‌ could be stopped‌⁠​ for a time,‌⁠‍ but sooner or⁠​⁠ later it would​ reappear in the​ history of humanity.‌

To‌ destroy it completely,⁠​ something else was‌ needed.

“Cory.”‍

Yuri⁠‍‌ called to Cory,‍‍​ who was lying⁠ on the ground.​‍ He woke up​⁠⁠ groggily when Yuri⁠​‌ shook him.

“Uh,‌ uh…”

“Cory,‍‌​ stand up.”

“Y-Your‍‍‌ Highness, hehehe…”

Scratching‍​ his head as‌​‍ if he had‍ just woken up,‌‍​ Cory looked at​​ Yuri, who pointed⁠ to the demon​⁠​ grimoire.

“Tired,⁠‍ right? Come on,​ let’s get rid⁠​ of that and​⁠ then rest.”

“That​​‌ is…”

Hesitating,​ Cory stepped in‍​​ front of the‌ grimoire.

“You’re⁠⁠ the only one⁠‌⁠ who can destroy​⁠‍ it.”

“Ah…‌⁠ no, not only‌⁠⁠ me…”

“Can‌ you do it?”‌

“Hmm…”‍

Cory‌ scratched his neck,⁠‍‍ coughed, and raised‌‍ his hands.

“Let’s‍⁠‌ try.”

[Voice‌ of Authority — Feeling]

A small white light⁠ emerged from his⁠⁠ hands and floated‍ toward the demon⁠​​ grimoire, like a leaf falling in‍ the wind.

It‍‌​ landed on the‌ book.

That‍‍‍ was all.

The⁠ grimoire turned into‍‍⁠ white ashes, which⁠ a gentle breeze‍‍​ carried away.

“Done.”‌

“Good​​​ work, Cory.”

To‍​ erase the black,‍‌ something opposite was‍‍ needed.

Pure​‌ good.

Something‍ no one had‍ ever found.

Perhaps‍‍ impossible for other‌‍⁠ humans — but​​ not for Cory,​ this small half-orc,​ a miracle born‍ from the human‌ heart.

Yuri‍​⁠ placed a hand‌‍ on his shoulder.‌‍‍

“Cory,‍⁠ you did well.”‍‌

“N-no,‌‌‌ Your Highness is‍​ the one who…”‌‌‌

“Yes,⁠⁠ I did my⁠⁠ part too.”

Yuri‌​ patted him and‍​ smiled broadly.

“See?‍‌⁠ I was right.”​

“Eh?”‌‌

“I⁠‍​ told you it‌​ was important to⁠⁠⁠ learn skills. Good‌‍‌ thing you learned⁠‌ magic, right?”

Cory‍ looked at him,‌ remembering how he⁠ had taken him‍​ in and taught​ him magic, even⁠⁠​ though everyone despised⁠‍ him.

A person like the​ sun.

Emotions​ don’t hide just‌​‍ because one wants‌⁠⁠ them to.

So‌​‍ Cory smiled so‍‌​ widely his face‌‌ seemed to shrink.‌‍

“Yes,⁠‌ that’s true.”

Yuri‌ smiled back.

“Let’s⁠ go back.”

Yuri‌‍ lifted Cory.

“Eh?”‍‌‍

“You​ can’t walk well.”‌‍⁠

“I-I’m​ fine…”

“Fine?​‌ Your legs are‍ shaking.”

“It’s⁠⁠ just that I’m‍⁠‍ afraid of heights…”‍​

“Now​‌ you’re making jokes.”‍‍‌

“Hehehe…”⁠‌⁠

Carrying​‌ Cory, Yuri walked​ beyond where the​​‍ black curtain had‍⁠ been.

Most⁠⁠‍ of the allied⁠‌ army was sitting,‍​ exhausted after giving‍ their energy to​‌ Cory.

When‌‍‍ they saw Yuri‌ and Cory appear,⁠ they all staggered​‍​ to their feet.⁠⁠⁠

Yuri‌‍⁠ Briol.

His‍​ return meant only‍‍ one thing — victory.

“Ah…”‌‍​

They​ had won.

“Ah…”‌‌

The⁠​ murmur turned into​ cries of joy.‍‍‍

Everyone​‌ raised their arms‌ and cheered.

Yuri⁠ did too.

Feeling​⁠ renewed strength, raising​⁠ his sword in‍ one hand and‍ Cory in the‍​ other, he shouted.‍

“We‌‍ woooon!”

“Eh?”‌‌

“We​‌⁠ woooon!”

“Y-Your⁠⁠‍ Highness, put me‍⁠ down…”

“Cory,⁠ you shout too!”‌‌

“Eh?”‍

“We‌​ woooon!”

“We…‍​‍ won?”

“Louder!”‌

“We​⁠ woooon!”

“We‌​ woooon!”

“We‌ woooooon!”

“We‍‍‌ woooooon!”

“We‌ woooon…! Cough, cough…⁠ ugh!”

“Hey,‌ hey?”

The‌⁠​ war was over.‌‍

It‍⁠⁠ had been a hard and bloody​​ road, with many⁠ lives lost.

But,​⁠‌ in the end.‍‍⁠

They‌ had won.

What did you think of this chapter?
2 reactions

1 Comments


  • Galih Aryasutha
    1 month ago

    Ceritanya sangat mendalam dan membuat hatiku jadi tersentuh dengan perjalan yang awalnya Yuri Briol dari kehidupan masa lalu di habisi oleh kekaisaran sampai sekarang cerita nya sangat bagus dan juga karakter karakter dari cerita ini juga sungguh berkontribusi dalam pernah akhir ini, untuk Yuri Briol sendiri pun sangat paling berdampak dari awal dia kembali ke masa kecil sampai besar melakukan yang dia bisa dan sejauh ini dia yang paling dominan melawan ilmu hitam, terima kasih sudah menyajikan cerita hang spektakuler ini😍🥳🤧

Reader Settings
Page mode
Timer
Text Indent
Auto scroll
Tap to read
Pin menu
Translate page
Select language to automatically translate chapter content.
Audio & AI Voice
This chapter has pre-loaded audio
Ads Blocker Image Powered by Code Help Pro

Ads Blocker Detected!!!

We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. Please support us by disabling these ads blocker.