The Prince Wants to Retire

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The Crown Prince Wishes to Retire

15. Kariel’s Secret Move (2)

Crows revealed themselves from within the forest, attacking the escaping Dark Mages from behind.

“Crows! Respond immediately!”

The Dark Mages, seemingly ready for the crows’ appearance, uniformly unleashed their spells.

Casting defensive magic through their Magical Tools, they managed to fend off the crows’ ambush.

Though the surprise attack failed, the crows’ primary objective was still achieved: buying time for the Knight Order to reorganize.

“The Dark Mages seem to be stalling. We must breach quickly! Rearrange the formation!”

The knights, led by the Senior Knight of the Central Order, began to regroup.

“Prepare to charge!”

While the crows provided cover, the knights of the Central Army readied themselves for a full-on assault.

As the knights started their charge to break through the Dark Mage standing in the center, the Magic Cannon from afar began to glow brightly again.

Watching this, Kariel hastily issued orders to the Palace Knights.

“Palace Knights, assist the Central Army Knights!”

“However, Your Highness!”

“We need to break through the enemy to escape!”

At Kariel’s command, the Palace Knights quickly gathered their mana.

Though imperfect, they surrounded the charging Central Army Knights with a Mana Barrier just as their offensive began.

The wedge-shaped wave of mana surged forward, shattering the Dark Mages’ spells.

A massive beam of light from the Magic Cannon flew toward them, but the Palace Knights’ Mana Barrier blocked the incoming blast.

However, the inadequately constructed barrier couldn’t withstand the Magic Cannon’s light for long and began to crack.

“Cough!”

Several of the Palace Knights knelt, spitting blood, having sustained internal injuries from the collapsing barrier.

Leaving behind the sacrifices of the Palace Knights, the Central Army Knights charged swiftly toward the Dark Mage blocking their path.

“Break through!”

The Palace Knights could not waste the opportunity that was created despite their injuries.

With all their strength, the Central Army Knights began to dismantle the Dark Mages’ magic, and just as the sword of the Senior Knight was about to strike the Dark Mage, black mist arose around him, and an overwhelming number of bone blades shot up.

“Unique magic!”

As the Senior Knight shouted, an immense number of Undead surged forth from the darkness, creating a space of bones that pressured the Knight Order.

That was a Unique Magic usable only by those at the brink of becoming a Mage.

It had manifested from the hands of the Dark Mage.

“It’s a Death Knight! We need to stop them first!”

Starting with the Unique Magic of the Elder-level Dark Mage, the core of the Undead Legion, the Death Knights appeared.

The crows, which had been keeping the Dark Mages in check, shifted their focus toward the Death Knights.

“We must protect the Crown Prince! Defensive Formation, everyone!”

With the charge formation rendered unnecessary, the elite troops took command, and as the orders were given, the shield-bearers stepped up to establish a defensive line.

Simultaneously, several knights positioned themselves to keep the Dark Mages at bay.

If they held the balance, the Knight Order could simply wait for an opportunity to strike the Elder-level Dark Mages.

But the Dark Mages were not finished preparing.

“It’s a Dark Knight!”

Knights empowered by dark mana.

These were knights who had become infused with dark mana as the cost of contracts with demons.

Taking advantage of the confusion as the Dark Knights occupied the attention of the Dark Mages, they swiftly targeted Kariel’s wagon.

The Palace Knights rushed forward, but heavily injured, they struggled to withstand the sheer numbers of the Dark Knights.

“Move.”

As Talion, who had remained around the wagon until the last moment, issued his command, the Crown Prince’s attendants sprang into action.

The retired Shadows, eager to showcase their skills once more, drew their weapons and charged toward the Dark Knights.

“Unique magic… Elder-level? I’ve never seen Bone Magic before…”

Kariel muttered inside the wagon while gazing at the Elder Dark Mage manifesting Unique Magic.

Considering it wasn’t part of his memories, it seemed likely that this figure wasn’t one of the key players who had survived the Demon-Human War.

Yet, even so, he realized he had hooked a much bigger fish than expected.

In his previous life, Elder-level figures rarely showed themselves until the Demon-Human War began.

The fact that a figure like this revealed themselves so quickly meant that the current situation was urgent.

Even if they weren’t the central figures like the First or Second Elders, an Elder was an Elder.

From past experiences, the appearance of an Elder-level was hardly the end of it.

‘This can’t be the end. Hurry up and reveal your cards.’

Thinking this, Kariel carefully observed the unfolding events through the wagon window.

The moment the Dark Mage revealed its hidden cards, Talion would move directly.

No matter how powerful the Elder was, they couldn’t contend with Talion when drained from battling the Knight Order.

—Which would you reveal first?

‘Let’s see how it plays out.’

Kariel thought silently in response to Surth’s words and gazed outside the wagon.

In the midst of the fierce clashes, both Kariel and the Dark Mage were watching for an opening.

The first to act was the Dark Mage.

“……Let’s begin that.”

At the Elder’s words, the Dark Mages immediately began to shove something into their mouths without hesitation.

Suddenly, the Dark Mages’ mana surged uncontrollably, and a massive magic circle began to materialize in the sky.

“Everything is for the Great Plan!”

“For the Great Plan!”

Amidst the chaotic surging black mana, the Dark Mages sacrificed themselves.

Watching this unfold, Kariel furrowed his brows.

They truly appeared to be acting out of their minds, looking more like a band of lunatics than anything else.

“Demon Summoning!”

“Stop them!”

The commanders shouted desperately, trying to prevent the Dark Mages from using themselves as sacrifices to summon demons.

However, they could not stop all the Dark Mages sacrificing themselves simultaneously.

“Is that all they were hiding?”

Kariel muttered as he opened the window.

“Talion, capture the Elder.”

“Your Highness.”

Talion shook his head, but as Kariel glanced back, he eventually lowered his head.

“You must remain inside the wagon.”

Nodding in agreement with Talion’s plea, Kariel finally took action.

If a mage had Unique Magic, then a martial artist had Unique Techniques.

They were individuals who had not only blossomed their characteristics but crafted unique techniques from them.

A few of the Empire’s 6th-stage martial artists set out to capture the Elder Dark Mage.

Clang!

“You’re quite perceptive.”

The Elder hastily conjured a bone shield to dodge a fatal blow. Talion grinned as he spoke.

“……The Crown Prince’s personal guardian?”

Upon hearing the Elder’s words, Talion glanced at the spears made of bones surrounding him with an indifferent expression.

“Creating a Unique Domain… how bothersome.”

A prepared mage could contend with even beings of a higher tier.

The Elder, having formed their unique domain with their Unique Magic, was strong enough that even Talion considered them a tough opponent.

Nevertheless, the excessive mana consumption from battling the Knight Order constrained the Elder’s capabilities.

“I might need to take off an arm to subdue you.”

Muttering this, Talion moved.

Different from his usual silly demeanor beside Kariel, Talion was fierce once the battle commenced.

Clang clang clang!

“Ugh…”

All the Elder could do was block with a bone shield, struggling to hold on as he faced the invisible sword strikes.

While he aimed to counter with Bone Magic, Talion’s speed was something even the Elder could not track.

If it weren’t for the fact that they were fighting within the mage’s domain, the Elder’s head would have already rolled.

“Was it too shallow?”

As Talion pierced through the Elder’s magic and severed an arm, he clicked his tongue in disappointment.

The Elder held onto his bloodied arm, stalling for time as he attempted to speak to Talion.

“Did you come here believing in your Imperial Guards?”

“We won’t chat until your arm is gone.”

Talion replied with a smile, trying to advance.

The Elder, smirking, responded, “Your arrival here is a tremendous blunder. As a result, the Crown Prince shall lose his life…”

“With just that? I don’t see a problem there.”

Talion scoffed at the Elder’s words.

The demons summoned through the sacrifices of the Dark Mages were unable to reach Kariel’s wagon, thanks to the elite Imperial Guards putting up a wall.

The moment, however, an earthquake-like roar shook the ground.

As the Elder heard this, a wide smile crept across his face.

“Could it truly be the end of our preparations?”

Just at that moment, a crow yelled in alarm.

“Monsters!”

“……What?”

Talion’s eyes widened at the crow’s shout.

“What the…?”

Seeing Talion’s reaction, the Elder chuckled mockingly.

“Did you think we hadn’t planted a spy in the Western Army?”

“What?”

In an instant, Talion clenched his teeth, unable to comprehend the situation.

“These crazy bastards…”

With thoughts of the military conspiring with the Dark Mages, Talion exuded an overwhelming intent to kill.

But the more intense his aura became, the louder the Elder’s laughter grew.

“You…”

“I warned you, didn’t I? You’d regret it.”

As he laughed at his own choice, Talion gritted his teeth, looking at the Elder casting magic.

Now it was the Elder who stood in Talion’s way.

Knowing that time was on his side, the Elder planned to keep Talion occupied and wait for Kariel to perish.

*

Meanwhile, while Talion was held up by the Elder, Undead had already begun to swarm around Kariel, and an immense number of monsters charged in from the front.

Against this backdrop, something colossal was emerging from the magic circle summoning the demons.

Watching this unfold, a man approached Kariel.

“I believe it’s time for my turn.”

“Please, go ahead.”

Nodding at the man’s words, Kariel replied.

At that moment, the Dark Knights that had been closing in suddenly split apart.

The Dark Knights, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events, tilted their heads in confusion.

In an instant, they couldn’t comprehend what had just unfolded.

However, their confusion quickly turned into astonishment.

“M-Master?!”

Before them stood a gargantuan demon summoned as a sacrifice by the Dark Mages.

As they gazed at the enormous sword that stood firm against the charging demon with two massive horns, fear began to cloud the red eyes of the Dark Knights.

Watching the colossal demon charge from a distance, the Elder was stunned as well.

“A Master! It can’t be the Master of the North… is it the Captain of the Palace Knights?”

Upon hearing the Elder’s words, Talion grinned.

“What the hell! Why is someone who should be protecting the Emperor here?!”

Akelio Jesterion, the Captain of the Palace Knights, one of the three pillars supporting the Empire, had now appeared.

The Elder wore a baffled expression, unable to comprehend why the Captain of the Palace Knights was here, but he had no time to remain stunned.

Talion was already swinging his sword, targeting his neck with full force.

With his Unique Technique that seemingly allowed him to disappear into darkness, Talion’s strike came from an unexpected angle, requiring the Elder to wrap multiple layers of bone shields for his defense.

While Talion held the Elder down, the Captain of the Palace Knights shouted,

“I, Akelio Jesterion, command you! Gather around the Crown Prince’s wagon immediately!”

At the Master’s command, all the scattered forces began to converge toward Kariel’s wagon.

Knights from the Central Army, crows battling in the forest, Shadows pushing back the Dark Knights, and the Imperial Guards driving away the demons all came together.

As they converged, Akelio created a colossal sword.

“I will clear a path! Everyone, protect the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, sir!”

At Akelio’s words, every soldier responded in unison.

With a slight nod, Akelio swung his enormous sword.

“One strike to the High Demon…”

Several remaining Dark Mages stumbled and fell as they witnessed Akelio splitting the huge demon in half in one blow, their legs trembling in shock.

With the overwhelming presence of the Master, the desperate battlefield began to shift dramatically.

Though monsters charged forward with wild eyes, Akelio advanced effortlessly, slicing through them as though he were merely breathing.