I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

204 - The World Conference (6)

TL/Editor: raei

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: none

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In the large clearing before the Purification Cult's main branch...

An unusual sight unfolded - no, one that should have been impossible.

The radical faction members who had practically ruled the Purification Cult were all kneeling respectfully.

Before them stood the moderate faction members with triumphant expressions.

Though it appeared the radicals had submitted to the moderates, the reality was slightly different.

"What, not going to attack anymore?"

This scene hadn't played out peacefully from the start.

Perhaps because it was their first sight of her in hundreds of years?

Halasho and the other radicals had refused to accept that the woman before them, Liushina, was the Witch of a Thousand Killings they worshipped like a god, leading to battle.

As soon as fighting began, Liushina laughed madly while mercilessly slaughtering cultists with her signature blood magic. Seeing this display of the "Beast Mother" known only through oral tradition and records, Halasho immediately dropped to his knees begging forgiveness.

"No, we apologize for our irreverence in not recognizing Mother immediately! We've committed a mortal sin!"

Renet nervously waited for Liushina to say "Then die," but fortunately those words didn't come.

"Hmm, at least your instincts are good. I was planning to kill everyone if you kept attacking."

Though her follow-up was still chilling.

With that, Liushina clicked her tongue as if bored and walked past the kneeling Halasho and radicals toward the main building.

Collins quickly fell in beside her.

"You created those blood wolves or whatever? Take me to where you keep the data on them."

"Of course. Haha, now that Mother has returned, the Purification Cult can finally be unified."

Expectation filled Collins's eyes as he spoke.

In truth, both radical and moderate factions pursued the same ultimate goal.

They only differed on timing - before or after the witch's return.

Thus, with Liushina's return, that distinction had essentially lost meaning.

"My heart leaps thinking about purifying the world together with Mother."

But Liushina's next words completely shattered his expectations.

"I've no plans for that."

"...Pardon? What do you mean? Wasn't Mother's goal to purify the world by killing all life on earth?"

"Well, I did want to kill everyone, though not quite so grandly. But that's changed now."

"But why..."

Bewilderment filled Collins's eyes.

Liushina's words essentially denied the Purification Cult's entire reason for existing.

But unconcerned, Liushina continued in a calm tone.

"My master doesn't like it."

"What? Master? You're saying there's someone Mother serves?"

Collins's expression grew even more shocked.

"Just who could this per- no, this being be..."

"There is. One monster of a person."

A monster she couldn't even imagine defeating.

As she recalled a certain man, a refreshingly different smile from before spread across Liushina's lips.

The emperor's throne was heavy.

At least, that's how Evelyn had seen her father.

Understood by no one.

Unable to show any weakness.

Emotions thoroughly hidden.

Always crushing everything else to maintain supremacy.

A position more lonely and treacherous than any other.

That's why Evelyn had resolved.

To become emperor and shoulder all those burdens herself.

To never let anyone else bear that weight.

Without letting a single person die.

Yet now Zion, who had seemed least connected to it all, was trying to shoulder that burden.

"Zion, you won't be able to bear that seat."

That's why Evelyn needed to know.

Whether her youngest sibling, practically her only blood relation, truly qualified to bear that weight.

No, truthfully, she wanted to make him give up even now.

She didn't want to see Zion meet the same miserable end as their father.

SWOOSH-

The tip of Evelyn's symbolic Lion Sword Lioner slowly pointed toward Zion.

"That's not for you to judge."

Zion coldly answered as he grasped at empty air beside him.

"It's for me to judge."

Darkness gathered in his hand, forming into a sword.

'I didn't expect this situation.'

Zion watched the Second Princess before him while drawing Eclaxia close.

Evelyn Agnes.

One of the two figures called "Heaven beyond Heaven" among the Seven Heavens, known as the Agnes Empire's strongest knight.

The strength attributed to Evelyn in the chronicle defied imagination.

All races, including humans, had limits.

In physical ability, mana control, senses, intelligence - everything had uncrossable boundaries.

But Evelyn knew no such racial limits.

She truly deserved the title of monster.

That's why Evelyn's battle scenes were among the few parts of the chronicle Zion had found interesting.

'And seven stars at that...'

Not just now but until her death, Evelyn had never broken through the final wall of six stars in Heaven Opposition Power.

Yet now seven stars clearly gleamed in her eyes.

She had achieved complete seven stars.

Whether this resulted from the changed future or some other reason remained unclear.

'Well, this works out.'

Though both Evelyn's achievement and this match were unexpected, Zion actually considered it fortunate.

It would perfectly focus attention here.

'And I've wanted to fight her at least once.'

Zion smiled inwardly while watching movements slowly beginning at the training ground's edges, then pointed Eclaxia's tip at Evelyn.

"Zion, if you defeat me here..."

The Lion Princess's words carried firm resolve,

"I'll give up my claim to the throne."

Finally, their clash began.

With a single step, Evelyn reduced their distance to zero and launched her first strike - a simple vertical slash.

A technique even beginners could use.

But when wielded by the one called strongest knight, it was different.

WHOOSH!

Was a meteor falling?

Her sword cut down, shattering everything in its path - air, space, all obstacles.

'Direct clash would be disadvantageous.'

Making this instant judgment, Zion's form ghosted sideways.

As Evelyn's sword barely missed him and struck the ground - BOOM!

An enormous shockwave covered the entire training ground, momentarily blinding and deafening everyone.

Ignoring the ground cracking from the impact, Zion dove straight into Evelyn's range.

Eclaxia shot toward her neck.

Though she couldn't pull back her sword to block in time, Evelyn didn't retreat.

Instead, she stepped forward.

CLANG!

Brilliant Heaven Opposition light concentrated at her neck, deflecting Zion's sword.

The power was so dense and mighty that even Zion's six-star Black Star Force couldn't instantly negate it.

Seizing the initiative again, Evelyn immediately pulled her downward sword into a diagonal upward slash.

Unlike before, they were so close her smallest muscle movements were visible - an undodgeable distance.

Unable to properly react, Zion's body was split apart.

WHOOSH!

The Lion Princess's sword cleaved through not just Zion but the space behind him, leaving a long line in the air.

As observers drew sharp breaths at this sight,

SWISH-

Zion's split form scattered and reappeared perfectly intact above Evelyn.

Dark Current Transformation.

He had planted Soul Extinction earlier during their first clash and used it to move.

SCREECH!

Eclaxia, now saturated with darkness to its limit, swung down and unleashed hundreds of Black Star Force blades toward Evelyn.

Night Cutter Application - Scatter.

Blade Rain.

A sword technique completely different from the condensed form Zion usually used.

The Lion Princess calmly watched these blades extending toward her and slowly raised her white-light-radiating Lion Sword.

Then came the division.

First two, then four, then eight...

Her sword multiplied exponentially until it covered the entire space, then - CRASH!

Completely shattered the rain of blades.

Evelyn slightly bent her knees while watching the countless shockwaves erupting from this.

Her form vanished from that spot and-

BOOM!

With exploding air, reappeared right before Zion.

As the princess's sword clashed with Zion's Eclaxia, now filled with black stars along its blade-

--- --!

The entire view began alternating between black and white.

"Whoa..."

This sound unconsciously escaped the dazed observers' lips.

The battle unfolding in the training ground's center.

No, could this simply be called a battle?

The scene before them was that awe-inspiring.

Hearts unconsciously racing and shivers continuously rising!

People's eyes fixed not on Evelyn but on Zion.

They knew well.

How strong Evelyn Agnes, called the strongest knight, was.

So while amazed by her transcendent swordsmanship, they could dismiss it thinking "Well, she is the Lion Princess after all."

But Zion was different.

'He's matching the Lion Princess... evenly?'

Though rumors had spread widely, few present had directly witnessed Zion's power.

So except for those like Ahmad and Ackendelt who had recently fought alongside him, most wore disbelieving expressions.

Was this man truly Zion Agnes, who just a year ago had been called the abandoned pureblood and confined to the Sinking Star Palace?

Even if true, was such growth possible?

It defied belief.

It felt like everything they had thought natural about the world was shattering.

'Moreover, that appearance is like...'

As some observers began recalling someone while watching Zion fight,

'Strong.'

Zion thought this while continuing to clash with Evelyn.

As expected of one who approached the title of strongest even in the chronicle.

The Lion Princess's strength exceeded his expectations.

'Is it because she reached seven stars?'

More faithful to fundamentals than anyone while simultaneously more skilled than anyone.

Though contradictory, these words perfectly suited Evelyn.

Perfect and flawless.

Every ordinary strike carried killing power, and her defense was like an impenetrable fortress wall.

Like watching a fortress of unified offense and defense.

"Taking the throne."

Evelyn's subdued voice flowed as she split Zion's Black Star darkness with Heaven Opposition light, as if ignoring type advantages.

"Means bearing the heaviest burden alone."

Her offensive grew fiercer.

The barely maintained power balance began cracking as advantage shifted toward her.

"And no one will understand you."

CRASH!

Wounds began appearing one by one on Zion's body as the situation grew urgent.

Zion knew.

That continuing like this could lead to defeat.

But it was too early to give up.

'This is manageable.'

One thing.

There was one thing where Zion held absolute advantage over the Lion Princess before him.

"You know what?"

SCREECH!

Zion smiled coldly at Evelyn who glared at him from sword-locked close range where their breaths mingled.

"I was never understood to begin with."

"...!"

As Evelyn's eyes wavered, sensing something in that smile - CLASH!

Zion's sword began to change.

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