9888-chapter-19-a-mad-dragon
“But… there are far too many of them.”
“Look carefully. This isn’t your hunt. It’s mine.”
“…Understood.”
It was unclear how much time had passed since Andre gave up on changing the prince’s mind.While the white-faced ghosts wailed and screamed…
“Wung, wung, wung, wung.”
A presence larger and more overwhelming than all the white-faced ghosts combined began to approach. Andre and Sol’s faces turned as pale as those of the spirits.
“Open the gate.”
“Y-Your Highness? Open the gate… what do you mean?”
“Open the entrance of the barrier. Just enough space for three people to enter at once.”
“B-but… still …”
“Open it. Do you intend to defy a direct order?!”
The prince’s boiling command rang out. Sol, bracing for death, released part of the Light Shield. In that moment, a ghost several times larger than an ordinary white-faced ghost charged into the opening, its many legs thrashing wildly. Along with it, shadows and white-faced ghosts were swept into the clearing. As its massive face and thick malice flooded into the space…
“Thump, thump, thump.”
A great heartbeat resounded from the prince’s body, and with it came a rush of searing wind. Platinum hair surged upward in reverse, crimson eyes gleamed vividly, and white steam rose from the prince’s body. Facing the oncoming shadows that were rushing forward to devour him…
“Burn!”
He raised his sword diagonally and let out a scorching cry.
“Fwoooosh!”
Fire erupted along the blade and then spread across his entire body. Soon, the red flame dyed the prince’s pure white hair a deep crimson. The sight resembled the arrival of a spirit of fire. The prince, now ablaze, burned more brilliantly than the flickering lights of the barrier. The moment he swung his sword toward the shadows,the entire space was engulfed in red flame.
When the fire, seemingly capable of setting the world ablaze, finally faded…
“Tap, tatak, tatatak.”
Only stifling smoke and intense heat remained where the fire had swept through.
“Cough, cough! Urgh. Y-Your Highness! Are you alright?!”
“W-wait. Don’t take off your cloak just yet! There’s still residual heat!”
Through eyes stung by the smoke, Andre searched for the prince. Sol urgently released cold air and wind from his hands, clearing away the remaining heat.Thanks to the white cloak that had pushed away the shadows, neither of them had been caught in the blaze. A measure prepared by the prince. Once Sol sent the smoke billowing up and out of the barrier, a figure became visible at the center of the clearing.
“Y-Your… Highness?”
Andre’s voice trailed in disbelief. Through the remaining heat and smoke, the prince stood clearly, illuminated by the flames still clinging to his sword like a torch. His legs were steady, unshaken.
“Ah…”
Sol let out a quiet gasp. Everything in that scene was stunning, but most of all, the prince’s hair, swaying like flames, was the most breathtaking sight.
His once-clean platinum hair now burned in dark red waves, and beneath it, half-lidded crimson eyes shimmered as if savoring the moment…It was a painting come to life.
“Puhh ” As the prince exhaled, thick gray steam spilled from his lips. Gradually, the flames surrounding his body faded, and the deafening sound of his heartbeat vanished into silence.
The battle was over.
The heat still lingered, and the echoes of the heartbeat in their ears left their minds dazed.
Each beat of his heart had caused the flames to flare violently, and the fire extending from his entire body to the tip of his blade had incinerated every shadow with each swing. It was overwhelming.
The power of “Red Flame”, the first heart of the “Flame Emperor’s Mind Technique”
While they were still trapped in awe…
[Sub-fate: Devastating Defeat, Disregard, Mockery—has been consumed! You’ve earned a large number of Alteration Points!]
[A new fate, Astonishment, Remarkable Victory, is being born! A destiny forged by your own hands. As a reward, you receive another thread of fate.]
[The flames exhaled by the Flame of Fate have bloomed brilliantly.]
[The mystery of the First Heart: Red Flame has grown even stronger.]
The emerging texts wiped away his lingering thoughts, and he barely shook off the aftermath of the battle. Then, as his gaze fell to the ground,lying nearby was a mask, unlike the others with plain faces. This one had the distinct, sharply drawn visage of a spirit.
[Another thread of fate. It has been granted to you as a reward.]
The predator’s eye revealed the mask’s fate, as he picked it up and brought it to his face, a shadow hidden within the mask stretched out and clung to his skin.
“Your Highness! Don’t …!”
“Your Highness!”
Andre and Sol’s cries rang out like a signal.Darkness surged again, billowing inside the flickering barrier of light.
[A new mystery: Shadow has been acquired.]
[With the contrast between fire and shadow, the color of the flame has become more vivid!]
“The Tenth Day, At Dawn, in Front of the Eleventh Prince’s Palace”
Unlike usual, a massive crowd had gathered. Of course, the nobility had not bothered to come in person. Their retainers had taken their place, overtly or covertly, to await the return of the Eleventh Prince,Aziel.
Couriers arrived with messages and reports, carriages came and went, and eunuchs and servants moved in and out with increasing urgency.
As dawn neared, even those who had remained in their residences, waiting for word, had come to the same conclusion.
“Failure.”
In fact…
“Prepare to enter Yeongrim!”
Andre’s “Bluewing Knights” mobilized.
“Everyone, prepare large-scale detection spells and prepare to shield the knights with light-element magic!”
Sol’s “Third Magical Combat Unit” also began preparations to enter Yeongrim.Their mission was to find the prince.Though no one dared say it aloud, the expressions on their faces made it clear, they hoped this wasn’t going to become a catastrophe.However…
“Your Highness, Your Highness…”
“We should wait a little longer. There’s still time.”
“Alfred, he’ll be okay, right? His Highness…”
Only the retainers of the Eleventh Prince’s palace still hoped for his return, even if they feared or resented him,even if they believed he was mad, he was their master, and a servant without a master has no place to go.
Lately, they had only just begun to adjust to the prince’s strange new demeanor. As Alfred and several others anxiously stared out toward Yeongrim…
“Someone’s coming!”
“Is it His Highness the Prince?”
At that moment, as sunlight broke through the horizon, scattering the shadows beyond the dark forest…
“Step, step, step.”
Three figures emerged from Yeongrim, silhouettes backlit by the rising sun.At their center, one figure stood out, clearly visible even in the shadow: vivid crimson eyes and flawless platinum hair. His regal, languid stride revealed his identity instantly.
“It’s His Highness the Prince!”
Murmurs spread through the crowd. Retainers and staff of the Eleventh Prince’s palace brightened in joy.Among them…
“It’s really His Highness…?”
Alfred squinted against the light and the dust rising with the dawn wind. Perhaps it was the sunlight at his back, but for a moment, the prince’s fluttering platinum hair looked like it was on fire.As the prince arrived before the palace…
“The prince must come forward and present his results!”
The same officials who once relayed the Emperor’s sacred decree now demanded proof, calling themselves the eyes of the Emperor.
“Here it is.” The prince calmly held out a white mask. On it was the grotesque face of a twisted spirit.
“The Centipede of the White Faces! That’s the White-Faced Centipede’s mask!”
Gasps rose among the distinguished observers.Even returning with a mere monster touched by shadow would have been impressive. But in Aziel’s hand was something unmistakable.
“Could it be… the actual mask of the White-Faced Centipede?”
Not just any monster, this was the greatest of the white-faced ghosts.To the inquiry of the highest-ranking observer, the prince replied,
“If you’re curious, go ahead and touch it.”
He lifted the mask with a sly curl of his lips. But no one dared to step forward.
The “White-Faced Centipede”, ruler of Yeongrim’s edge, a force equivalent to dozens of lesser ghosts. To bring back its mask was a feat beyond expectations. The prince had proven both his worth and his power. He had seized his opportunity. With this, he would surely earn not just a reward, but another opportunity.
Just as the observers prepared to report the results,
“We’re not done yet!”
Andre raised his voice, announcing that the proof was incomplete. Then he unshouldered a massive bag and dumped its contents onto the ground.
“Clatter!”
A mountain of white masks, plain and uniform, but numerous were spilled out.
“Guh!”
“Are those… all white-faced ghost masks?”
“How could there be so many?!”
Those who had been about to turn away froze mid-step.They even forgot their duty to report the result. They were paralyzed.
Calmly and even a little shamelessly the prince laid the grotesque mask of the centipede atop the pile.
“As His Majesty commanded, I’ve brought back enough heads to fill my vessel. Perhaps a bit more than enough.”
Then he turned to everyone, still staring at him in stunned silence, and offered a sly smile.
“So? Are you satisfied?”
The madness glimmering in his eyes flickered like dawn fire as his gaze swept across the unseen nobles hidden behind their spies.
That day, among the hundreds of palace attendants and eunuchs gathered at the Eleventh Prince’s palace, a rumor began to spread throughout the steel capital.
The Eleventh Prince, once mocked as a madman, might in fact be something far more dangerous, a mad “Dragon”.