Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince

Yuri had passed through an extreme mental state.

It was probably due to the unprecedented possibilities spreading because of the chaos.

The branching paths of life granted to him far exceeded those of anyone else, and so, as if a hole had opened in a dam that should have remained sealed, his soul constantly tried to escape toward new lives.

That he could return to reality after so many escapes was solely thanks to Yuri’s willpower, which had transcended human limits.

Waking from a sweet dream and returning to a cruel reality—this had already become routine for him.

Cedric, who had no way of knowing this, could not understand the situation.

[How?]

It was impossible.

The illusion he had imposed on Yuri did not differ in the slightest from reality.

Everything fit perfectly, and at last, a world of happiness bloomed. There could be no human who would willingly reject it.

Even if reason did so, instinct and even the soul would fiercely rebel to enjoy that supreme happiness.

That was how it was meant to be by nature.

“What did you say…?”

Yuri smiled as he twisted the sword lodged in Cedric’s chest.

“Because I’m human.”

[You…]

“If this surprises you, I guess the monkey is you, Cedric.”

Cedric vanished.

The world began to crack.

Everything collapsed.

Yuri, feeling the weight of Guilty in his hand, reflected.

Even if he woke from this dream, reality would not change.

He would still be with his abdomen pierced by Cedric, who was controlling Laurent’s body, and that man would use his accumulated, endless vitality to massacre the Anti-Imperial Coalition forces.

Dying was more likely than living.

That was why, perhaps, this was his last chance.

If he turned his head now—

Could he see Yekaterina in her wedding dress?

She would surely look beautiful.

Yuri let out a light laugh. Then he drove Guilty into his own neck.

“No way.”

With that, Yuri’s brief slumber crumbled completely.

***

Waking from the dream was instantaneous.

Still leaning on the ground, Yuri let out a low chuckle.

“Now this hurts.”

The illusion Cedric had implanted had lasted barely an instant.

But returning to reality, where his life hung by a thread, brought an unbearable pain that shot through his entire body.

“Your Highness!”

Jose lifted him up.

Yuri, letting out a groan, spoke.

“It hurts.”

“Your abdomen…”

“I’m not going to die.”

The bleeding was not heavy. He had used his mana to seal the blood vessels—something only an expert of his caliber could accomplish.

But fighting in these conditions would be difficult.

Yuri raised his gaze.

Cedric, who had abandoned Laurent’s body, cast his shadow over the world.

Tentacles rose, blood and flesh splattered; hell once again unfolded on the surface.

Yuri, leaning on Jose, asked,

“Laurent?”

“His life’s not in danger.”

“Help me up.”

“Yes.”

Jose supported him as he stood. Yuri breathed heavily from the pain.

Both Laurent and Jared had fallen to Cedric.

Without his two usual companions, he felt truly alone.

“No… not yet.”

Yuri shook his head.

Not yet.

“Your Highness…”

“Tell them to hold out a little longer.”

Cedric had managed to turn part of the Anti-Imperial Coalition into his own troops.

Thus, former allies were now crossing swords with each other—tragedy at its peak.

That was Cedric’s style.

Disgusting.

Like water seeping through where hands could not stop it, the only way to end this tragedy was to kill the root cause.

Yuri, forcing his muscles, gripped his sword.

“Cedric is at his limit too.”

It was obvious.

If he truly had absolute power, he would have simply crushed and destroyed the entire Anti-Imperial Coalition.

There would be no need to waste time showing him illusions.

Jose understood what Yuri meant and frowned.

“But, Your Highness…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Yuri tried to get up, but the abdominal pain forced him back down again.

“Your Highness.”

“Ugh…”

He used the power of chaos to regenerate his body, but the wounds would not disappear immediately. His strength was focused on destruction, not healing.

“Just a little longer.”

He focused on returning to a state where he could fight.

At that moment, a group ran toward him from afar—it was Hernando and Maryrose, coming from the rear guard.

“Are you all right, Your Highness?”

Hernando knelt beside him, panting.

Maryrose placed her hand on his solar plexus, right over the sword wound. Her cool touch made Yuri let out a slight groan.

“Letting yourself get stabbed…”

Maryrose’s tone sounded like a genuine scolding, so Yuri stayed silent. She examined the wound.

“It’s deep.”

“Argh…”

Her pressure increased, making Yuri let out a louder grunt.

Maryrose looked at Hernando.

“Can we do it here?”

“Let’s try.”

Both extended their hands toward the wound. A faint glow began to emerge.

Jose’s eyes widened in surprise.

“How…?”

“Only Cedric is left now,” Hernando replied.

Apparently, by absorbing all the black mages under his command, Cedric had weakened his ability to dispel magic, and the density of his dark power was lower than before.

Although mana was still restricted around Cedric, here, far from the main battle, his influence was reduced.

“Let’s give it a try.”

They joined hands.

A white light enveloped Yuri’s abdomen.

“Ugh…”

“Focus.”

Even so, mana control was not completely free, so both had to close their eyes and concentrate.

Although it wasn’t a high-level spell, the effort made them sweat profusely.

“Haa…”

Yuri was breathing more easily.

As soon as the healing energy from the two reached him, he used the power of Chaos to amplify its effect.

The two different energies created such a synergy that even Jose let out a gasp of astonishment.

“Wow… the external wounds have visibly improved…”

“Jose.”

“Yes.”

“I’m fine, so fight.”

“I will protect you.”

“It’s fine.”

Yuri motioned with his chin.

“I’ll be right behind you.”

Jose nodded with a serious face.

“Understood, Your Highness. I’ll be waiting for you.”

He immediately left.

As soon as he walked away, Maryrose, still focused with her eyes closed, spoke.

“Even if I heal the wounds, in this state you can’t fight.”

“I can.”

“In this state, it will be difficult.”

“I’m telling you, I can.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Honestly, you’re so stubborn…”

Maryrose gave him a small tap on the shoulder.

“Don’t hurt yourself.”

“I can’t promise that.”

“Seriously…”

“Try to understand me.”

While they spoke, Hernando, who had been silently applying his healing magic, opened his eyes to watch them.

Somehow, the distance between them seemed to have lessened.

“Hmm…”

At the sound of his throat clearing, they both went silent.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know what Maryrose will say, but…”

Hernando withdrew his hands. Yuri’s wounds were now visibly closed, and the bleeding had stopped.

“I ask that you fight once more.”

“Telling that to someone who’s injured…?”

“Maryrose, don’t be stubborn. It has to be His Highness.”

Hernando smiled, recalling the day he first met Yuri.

The young man who had transcended the Mandate.

He, who watched the Mandate, had found one who surpassed it. In the end, that too must be the guidance of the world.

“Please, protect this world.”

He opened both hands, and a white glow began to emanate from his body.

“H-Hernando?”

He didn’t respond, clenching his teeth.

There were still faint traces of the Dispel that hindered his mana matrix. The greater the magic, the greater the resistance caused by the Dispel.

By forcing his power, the mana distorted, but Hernando didn’t care.

“Hernando…!”

At that moment, he was about to exceed his limit.

The price was obvious.

Like Inariel, he would lose his unique magic.

Perhaps even all the level he had reached would vanish.

Even so, without hesitation, he poured all his mana into Yuri, like someone inflicting damage upon themselves until their energy channels distorted.

Recovery.

The most basic spell to heal wounds.

Perhaps it was too small for a great mage to risk his fate on. But Hernando bet everything, believing that this small magic could change the world.

Sometimes, the smallest spell produces the greatest miracle.

That wonder of the world had, from the beginning, been the reason Hernando chose the path of magic.

“Please… save this world.”

The white light wrapped around Yuri.

At the same time, Hernando collapsed.

“Hernando!”

Maryrose shook him by the shoulders. He hadn’t completely lost consciousness, but a faint groan escaped his lips and a thread of blood slid down from them.

“Hernando!”

Yuri got up and took his hand. He knew that he had just lost something.

With a weak smile and blood at his mouth, Hernando raised his thumb.

“This guy…”

Yuri also raised his thumb.

“I’ve received your will…”

Then he looked away.

For Hernando, who had risked everything for him, he had to go immediately to face Cedric.

“I’ll be back.”

“Be careful.”

After exchanging a look with Maryrose, he left.

He wasn’t in his best condition, but the pain that had been tormenting him had lessened.

This was enough to fight.

Yuri was running toward the battlefield when someone blocked his path—small, thin, limping, with his hood pulled low.

With both arms spread wide, he blocked his way.

“Y-Y-Your Highness…”

“Cory?”

Yuri stopped dead. By reflex, he gripped Guilty’s hilt, but then loosened his hand.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m in a hurry.”

“Y-Your Highness…”

“Step aside or I’ll cut you down.”

Over Cory’s shoulder, Yuri saw his men dying at Cedric’s hands.

Time was pressing.

Every blink cost a life. He had to stop this tragedy.

But Cory said something different.

“I-I know how to stop him.”

“What?”

“He thought I betrayed him, but it’s not true. Hehehe…”

Yuri watched him silently.

The hood shifted, revealing a grotesquely distorted face.

“In truth, I pretended to betray him to get under Cedric’s orders and hinder him. From the start, it was to help you.”

“And?”

“Right now, there’s no point in going against Cedric. To stop him…”

“To stop him?”

“You have to attack the core he’s hiding. It’s below. Fighting here is useless—it’s true.”

While listening, a group of soldiers was skewered by tentacles and died.

Francesco, who was trying to intercept Cedric, was knocked down.

Yuri wanted to throw himself into the fight.

But Cory’s words somehow made him hesitate.

He felt he should believe him.

“Cory… can I trust you?”

Laurent had told him that Cory betrayed him. Yuri hadn’t wanted to believe it, but his behavior until now was, just as he claimed.

“Yes… believe me… hehehe…”

Seeing him smile with bared teeth, Yuri lowered the tip of his sword.

“I trust you, Cory.”