Chapter 103
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: The Prince's Halo
-----------------------------------------------------------------
He gestured once more.
At that, the halo began to rotate slowly, drawing in something from its surroundings and absorbing it.
It was probably devouring the power that the rampaging ancient monster Mist had condensed here in this fog maze over countless ages.
"It was tough at first. I'll admit that. But now? It's no longer an issue."
His sole purpose was to slaughter the imperial family and claim the throne of this empire.
"Do you have any idea how much contempt flows between members of the imperial family?"
"No clue. I get it, but I don't care beyond that."
A collateral prince.
A position prepared as a proxy for the imperial family. A being granted the name of prince despite not truly being one.
Anyone but a fool could grasp what he meant to say.
He likely endured all sorts of disdain for bearing only the empty title of prince.
"Truth be told, I never cared much for the throne. I could have just lived quietly."
He gave a wry smile.
"But with so many imperials around, and some who found my very existence an eyesore... it was only after losing the people I loved that I realized."
That he had to slaughter them all.
"Twisting the life force of everyone caught up in this place into offerings. No qualms about that?"
If left alone, he would absorb all the power accumulated in this fog maze—along with the life force of the countless people swept up in it—and convert it into his own strength.
In response to Luna's question, he fell silent for a moment before smiling faintly.
"You... for some reason, it feels like you can see right through me. Such a shame. Well then, one final offer."
"No need to hear it. This plan was doomed from the start."
"No, it will succeed. I've planned for this over many long years."
He let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"Do I seem like a devil to you?"
A sneer curled at Luna's lips.
"Wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"Angels weep for the good, and devils punish the wicked to honor the good."
"An amusing saying."
"To us now, it's just an old myth."
With those words, an intangible barrier solidified into a sphere, enveloping Luna. It soon lost its glow, sealing her completely inside.
"A pity we couldn't join forces."
The moment Luna vanished, trapped within the sphere, he turned toward the massive torrent filling his view.
"Just need to absorb these, and it's over. Can't have any more interruptions."
As he spoke, the halo spun faster, releasing power, and clusters of strange lights gathered around him.
"Hup... hah!"
With a short shout, the lights coalesced into knights clad in massive armor.
Pure white wings sprouted from their backs.
Were these the angelic forces described in ancient tomes?
In truth, even Prince Dorn knew little about these beings.
They were borrowed through his contract with the halo, which he had chanced upon in the imperial vault.
He didn't even know what the halo floating above him truly was or what entity had birthed it.
With no hint of self-awareness—their helmet visors opaque—they silently turned and exited through the rift without a word.
"Go. Kill any who interfere."
At his cold command, the knights moved out. He refocused on absorbing power into the halo.
The life force of every human in the safe zones within this fog maze began draining toward him bit by bit.
An overwhelming might, bordering on omnipotence, seeped into him through the halo.
No one else in the imperial family knew what the halo—unearthed from ancient ruins—truly was. But he did. The halo had chosen him, and he had seized the opportunity.
That was when it happened.
Boom!!!Krunch!!
A sound of something shattering and crumbling struck his ears. He halted his absorption and irritably turned his head.
Clang!...Clatter!!
From the darkness beyond the rift, something metallic flew in and rolled to his feet.
"......"
It was a knight's helmet—one from the guardians he had just deployed to seal off the area.
They shouldn't have fallen this quickly.
"Just one question, Prince Dorn."
A girl's voice echoed from the darkness.
A voice even Dorn Ru Pascalia couldn't mistake.
"Countess Melissa Cascadia."
"You... you really are behind all this."
The girl was none other than Melissa.
She approached with her sword lowered, fixing him with an icy glare.
A bizarre flow of aura poured violently from her, crushing the surroundings.
It was the aftermath of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword Leon had taught her, yet it carried a feel alien to common aura users.
"Yes. I did it."
"I didn't know you long, but I thought you were a good person. You seemed so happy with Lilia... was that all an act?"
"I won't deny it. I needed deep ties to the Bernier count family to reclaim this power."
Dorn answered without hesitation.
Melissa lowered her gaze silently.
The faint tremor in her eyes and sword hand betrayed her growing rage.
Composing herself with a short sigh at his brazen attitude, she said,
"Fine. Now I know what kind of man you are—that's enough. Actually, it's for the best. I stopped my friend from marrying someone like you."
"Harsh judgment. But tell me, what can you do alone?"
To his question, Melissa met his gaze with emotionless coldness.
"Big Brother."
Suddenly, a presence loomed behind him.
Prince Dorn startled and whirled around.
He couldn't believe someone had slipped past his senses to approach this close.
A rough hand gripped his shoulder—Leon Cascadia, smirking in sunglasses, lightly tossed something before his eyes.
It was an artifact.
One Prince Dorn recognized all too well.
A flash artifact.
Why was this here?
"Let there be light."
Ah.
Before he could react, a deafening roar and blinding flash erupted.
Melissa had turned away, as if expecting it.
Flash!!!
Dorn possessed near-immunity to light and noise thanks to his extraordinary physique.
But this flash artifact overwhelmed even him in an instant.
"Guh?!"
Panicking, he reflexively swung his arm in counterattack.
A shockwave laden with immense power exploded outward, but no enemies lay within its range.
Realizing his mistake too late, he tried to manifest the halo's power for defense.
But...
Kaboom!
Before his barrier could activate, a fist twisted through space and slammed into his body.
"Kuhak?!"
Prince Dorn Ru Pascalia crashed into the wall in a split second, grimacing slightly.
What just hit me?
He couldn't quite process it.
The flash affecting him excessively was surprising but plausible.
But...
Leon's follow-up shouldn't have packed that much power.
The damage wasn't severe yet.
Slowly rising, he silently took in the sight of Leon standing before him.
Right—the biggest variable in this plan.
Once Leon was dealt with, no one could interfere anymore.
How he ended up here was a mystery, but he was undeniably caught in this mess.
Coincidence.
If he crumbled here, he never would have started.
Pat... pat...
Brushing off stone fragments, Dorn surveyed his surroundings quietly.
The cave wall he had smashed into was regenerating rapidly, as if nothing had happened.
This space was the lair of the rampaging ancient Mist that created the fog maze.
In the end, it was all an illusion.
"Amusing. When power falls short, one must rely on tools, after all."
Smiling faintly, he gestured.
An intangible force instantly bound Leon's body midair, freezing him in place.
Did they need lengthy words?
Leon had come to stop him. He sought to grow his power at the cost of everyone here.
No common ground for persuasion.
Leon's fingers twitched slightly in the air.
At once, a massive spectral wolf burst from his shadow, clamping down on Dorn in an instant.
"Ha. With this paltry—"
Grrrrr...
Though armed with razor fangs and crushing jaws, Muyoung's teeth couldn't pierce his flesh.
As if an invisible barrier guarded him.
Undeterred, Muyoung hoisted Dorn into the air and spun wildly in a death roll at breakneck speed.
"Childish tricks."
Despite the formidable assault, Dorn rose unscathed and slowly drew his sword.
Shing!!!
Dozens of sword traces etched into Muyoung, shredding his form to pieces.
Dorn's intangible sword ki didn't stop there—it hurtled toward Leon as well.
Leon sprang away just in time, and the spot he'd occupied erupted in sword scars.
"Tch, so unfair."
"Is that all?"
Glancing at the scattered remnants of Muyoung, he pressed Leon again.
"Not to be rude, but I'm disappointed. I took some interest hearing you'd slain the Kraken."
Leon silently stared at the halo hovering above his head.
"What now? Your undead's in pieces."
Leon clicked his tongue at the taunt.
"Muyoung, you gonna take that lying down?"
As he spoke, black mist coalesced beside Leon, reforming into the pristine spectral wolf, Muyoung.
-Grrrrr...
Dissatisfied, it growled lowly up at Leon.
"Yeah, full of life for an undead."
Leon ruffled its chin roughly, showing no urgency.
By raw power alone, the gap between Leon and Prince Dorn was vast.
Yet Leon remained utterly calm.
As if he had Leon's measure—the man and his power—down pat.
That gaze irked Dorn.
So rather than bandy more words, he unleashed another barrage of attacks.