Episode 144

“Damn it.”

Yvonne forced herself to stay calm and resumed clearing the rubble in front of her with quick, deliberate movements. She thought she’d seen light a moment ago, but when she looked again—there was nothing.

As she moved stones, she kept checking on Evony to make sure she was still breathing. Then she continued working, ignoring the sting of her torn palms. Her hands were damp—it was definitely blood.

But to Yvonne, the bleeding, the pain that felt like her fingernails were about to rip off—none of it mattered right now.

It was better than drowning.

Whooooosh!

The rush of water from behind was growing fiercer.

“I can’t die like this.”

She said it calmly, and went back to moving the stones.

“Ugh…!”

After clearing all the smaller ones, only the large boulders remained. She gritted her teeth and tried to move them with all her strength.

But—

“Kyaa!”

They wouldn’t budge.

“Please… please…!”

Then, one of the heavy stones lifted slightly—just a little.

And in that very moment—

Rrrrumble!

The pile she’d worked so hard to clear came crashing down again, completely sealing off even the sliver of light she had found. Whether it was a blessing or a curse, the rushing water behind her had also stopped.

“Hah…”

Yvonne took a shaky breath of relief and began clearing the newly fallen rocks again.

Boom! Crack! CRASH!

Suddenly, a massive roar echoed through the chamber—and the ceiling above her gave out.

“Ugh…!”

Struck by the falling debris, Yvonne instinctively curled her body around Evony—then lost consciousness.

* * *

“Damn it.”

Even as he headed toward the emperor, Yurian was using every bit of his senses to search for any trace of Yvonne.

It was certain that Evony had taken her. But still, he couldn’t shake the unease. If they had used the gate hidden in the rear garden as instructed, they should have arrived at his estate long ago.

But Yurian didn’t know—Evony had never intended to go to his manor. She didn’t know that Yvonne loved Yurian, and couldn’t trust a man who hadn’t fully earned her daughter’s faith.

That was why Evony had taken her through the underground waterway.

“Your Grace!”

His subordinates had already engaged the emperor. Even though they numbered over a hundred, they were being pushed back—by only two people.

“Are you real, or are you fake?”

Hildebrandt asked the question listlessly.

“I’m not sure myself.”

Then he raised his hand and used his ability on Yurian.

In that instant, the wall of a massive building crumbled and fell toward Yurian.

Boom!

Yurian punched through the rubble and charged at the emperor.

“Where is Yvonne?”

“This time, I’ll make sure you fall—for good, Your Majesty.”

“Tell me where she is.”

Hildebrandt tried to hypnotize him, but Yurian broke through it with his own power. Hildebrandt realized it hadn’t worked—and smiled.

“So, you’ve had your second awakening, Duke.”

“Seems Your Majesty has too.”

“Mm.”

“Then why are you looking for Her Highness?”

“She’s mine. If I can’t have her, I’ll kill her before I let you.”

He spoke as if he were utterly devoid of emotion.

“You’re not willing to let her go?”

“Would you, if it were you?”

“No.”

“Then why even ask me?”

Hildebrandt laughed. His eyes were hollow, but his mouth was curved in a smile—like a man completely unhinged.

“Don’t you want Yvonne to be happy?”

“I don’t give a damn about her happiness. I’m not happy.”

Yurian frowned. The emperor’s eyes were lifeless, like those of a corpse, making it impossible to tell if he meant what he said.

“If Your Majesty truly loved her, you wouldn’t say that.”

“Right. It’d be better if that were true.”

Hildebrandt’s eyes regained focus. With a twisted smile, just on the verge of tears, he unleashed his ability again.

The range included everyone within his line of sight.

“Everyone, fall back!”

But Yurian’s warning came too late.

“Die. Everyone but Francis.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At his command, they all drew their swords—and turned them on themselves.

“Kh—!”

“Agh!”

“Ugh…!”

Those who didn’t die in a single blow stabbed themselves again and again.

“You’re out of your mind.”

In that instant, Yurian lunged at Hildebrandt with his sword.

“I’m a swordsman too, Duke.”

Hildebrandt twisted to evade the strike.

“You’re still as cruel as ever, Your Majesty.”

“Yvonne’s gone.”

As he said it, Hildebrandt summoned dozens of swords that hovered around him. With a flick of his wrist, the blades rained down on Yurian.

Crash! Boom!

“Francis. Take care of him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Though swords stabbed into the ground all around him, Yurian remained unharmed. The blades shattered on contact with his enhanced body—broken fragments scattering everywhere.

“Do you really think you can handle me one-on-one?”

“No.”

As Francis replied, a unit of knights arrived to surround Yurian.

“Cowardly.”

“As I said before—there’s no such thing as cowardice in war. Only life and death.”

Francis gripped his sword tighter.

“Obscure his vision.”

The illusion changed the landscape in front of Yurian. But he stared at it coldly. Illusion magic was a branch of the mental ability type—one that no longer affected him.

“You really think that’ll work?”

“Rober’s out. Switch to support.”

“Yes.”

The caster who had been using the illusion sheathed his dagger and repositioned himself behind Yurian.

“Where did you hide Princess Yvonne?”

“Why does that matter?”

“We’ve sealed all gates since yesterday.”

“…What?”

“I figured Your Grace might be under a false assumption.”

Francis said it on purpose. All gates had indeed been sealed—so that no one could escape. They knew Yurian was rallying his knights.

It was a trap set by the emperor to keep Yvonne from escaping. And just as Francis intended, the words visibly shook Yurian.

“Then I’ll kill you quickly.”

Yurian spat those words, leapt high into the air, and brought his sword crashing down. Francis blocked it, but the force from the reinforced blade sent a shockwave through his arms.

“Heal.”

Despite having both arms fractured, Francis calmly stepped back and healed himself. With one arm not fully restored, he lunged again, slashing at Yurian’s neck.

“Ugh—!”

He grazed Yurian’s throat, leaving a shallow cut. Once both arms were functional, he spun and slashed at Yurian’s chest.

Clang! Slam!

Yurian parried it, then kicked Francis away—sending him crashing into a tree. Francis recovered quickly and returned to the front.

His subordinates formed ranks behind him. Since Yurian was immune to mental abilities, terrain-altering and illusion-based powers were useless. Only Francis was capable of fighting him head-on. The ability-boosters were channeling their power into the healers instead.

Yurian was desperate. He needed to find Yvonne. Unless he saw her with his own eyes—he wouldn’t feel at peace.

“Reckless bastard.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“You take that as a compliment?”

Francis ignored the jab and lunged again.

“Ugh!”

He flung his cloak at Yurian’s face.

“Still as cowardly as ever.”

Yurian swatted it away—only to find a blade flying toward his chest.

Crack!

He struck Francis’s arm with his fist, deflecting the sword upward.

“Ugh…!”

The blade grazed Yurian’s temple. A single drop of blood flew upward—then dropped with gravity.

“Getting distracted?”

Momentarily fixated on Francis, Yurian sensed another enemy behind him. Using Francis’s shoulder as a foothold, he spun mid-air and plunged his sword into the back of a knight.

“Argh!”

Yurian pulled the sword out without a word.

“Now you’re the one who let your guard down.”

“Hardly.”

Francis shoved the collapsing knight aside and stabbed again.

Clang!

Yurian blocked it again. Francis’s next slash scraped his side. Yurian ignored the ripped fabric and slashed back at Francis.

Boom! Boom!

Francis barely blocked it but was pushed back. His arms broke again. He was on the defensive now. Healing wasn’t infinite.

“If you back down now, I’ll let you live.”

“What kind of life would that be?”

“Must be fun, living like a brainless dog.”

“Even dogs know their masters.”

Francis grinned at the insult—and charged again.

Boom!

This time, Yurian ducked low, abandoned his sword, and struck Francis square in the jaw. The blow sent Francis flying backward.

At that moment—

CRASH! BOOM! THUNDER!

Thousands of swords came raining down over Yurian.

“I expected this, but still… Disappointing.”

Hildebrandt had returned—and cast his power on Yurian. Then, glancing at Francis, he said:

“You can’t find her alone. So find her for me.”