Chapter 40

At the same time, in the throne room of Dawn City—

Benjamin, bearer of the "Silent Reaper," gazed at the blood-red characters slowly forming on the page—Turing Reyes.

"Your Majesty, the second prince is dead," he said solemnly, adjusting his glasses. "Shall we write the third prince next?"

"No. He poses little threat to me. Save him for last," Crown Prince Ivan Reyes replied from the throne, surveying all below. "First, write the queen—Catarina Gondor."

A flash of lightning tore through the night, illuminating the crown prince’s face—utterly expressionless.

Meanwhile, where Naya and the others stood, the lightning only deepened the "tragic" atmosphere. The second prince had died inexplicably, and everyone could only watch helplessly.

Even Naya, as a Priestess, was powerless.

Aire would find it hardest to accept…

Her bond with the second prince went far beyond mere "childhood sweethearts." The weight of their feelings always exceeded words.

Aire’s trembling hand pressed against the second prince’s cheek. "This can’t be real… We promised to grow the Aeon Sect together…"

Death… meant only fragmented memories remained to cherish. The future… would never hold the second prince again.

In the end… he hadn’t even finished a single coherent last word.

Aire gripped Leon’s shoulders fiercely, nearly knocking him over. Tears streamed down her face as she shook him desperately—Leon had never seen her so frenzied.

"It was the crown prince!! Leon—! Help me take revenge! Help me take revenge! Help me take revenge!"

"Alright." Leon didn’t hesitate. Aire’s near-breaking state pained him. A girl like her actually cried.

"Once we step out this door, I’ll fight beside you all the way to the palace," Leon replied.

"Wait…!" Naya interjected. "Shouldn’t we plan first? Didn’t we say the crown prince controls five hundred imperial guards at the palace? We must break through them to reach him."

Aire and Leon stared at her—she had a point. With the second prince alive, the guards wouldn’t dare attack. Now he was dead, charging in would mark them as assassins.

"The Aeon Hand saved over four hundred adventurers from lava," Aire countered. "It can wipe out five hundred guards with one strike."

"But guards won’t line up neatly waiting to die," Naya argued. "They’re scattered across the palace. Hard to eliminate all at once."

And the Aeon Hand had limited uses.

"If needed, we’ll destroy the whole palace," Aire said darkly. "The Aeon Hand can do it."

"Ruri might have a solution," Ruri suddenly cut in. She flipped open her magic book, revealing a spell she’d additionally drawn—

Meteor Burst on Army

Usage count: 1

Maximum targets: 3000

Spell description: Deals 2d6 bludgeoning damage and 6d6 explosive damage to the target and anyone wearing identical attire.

Used on a random passerby, it’s just a single fireball. But! Aim it at one soldier in an army… feel the literal, infinitely amplified malice!

A forbidden spell!! This was absolutely a forbidden spell!

"Now I see why the Four Great Kingdoms were crushed by Sorcerers," Leon muttered.

"This… needs no components or mana?" Naya couldn’t grasp how broken the Sorcerer class was.

Ruri shook her head. "Magic recorded in the book can be used anytime. Only the usage count limits it."

"Once is enough. Ruri, use it on one guard later," Leon said, slinging his sword over his shoulder and turning coolly—determination and fury burning in his dark eyes.

"Move out! Every delay risks the remaining princes being cursed to death!"

"I’ll scout ahead—!" Anya in cat form leaped out the window.

Immediately after, in Dawn City’s throne room—

On the open page, the queen’s name surfaced below Turing Reyes. The blood-red scrawl eerily resembled a murder victim’s dying message.

"Your Majesty, the queen is dead. Shall we write the third prince next?" Benjamin asked.

"No. First, write Holy Knight Aire of Aio. She’s a greater threat," the crown prince replied.

"But Your Majesty, her surname must be included for it to work."

"I’ll have it investigated."

Just then, the silver-robed captain of the imperial guards entered, flanked by two soldiers.

"Intruders?" the crown prince asked instantly, as if expecting it.

"None spotted, Your Majesty. I report twenty guards at the outer gate were blown up by a falling meteor."

As he spoke—explosions erupted from countless palace corners. The blasts grew louder, closer—then two fireballs materialized, obliterating the soldiers beside the captain.

"Your Majesty! Is this magic?? Magic! Magic!?" the captain shrieked, trembling. He thanked his luck for surviving, sandwiched between them.

People recalled the ancient dread of Sorcerer rule.

"Stay calm. Go see what’s happening," the crown prince commanded, raising his arm. "Gather every adventurer in Dawn City! Announce demons at the Aeon Grand Cathedral! Post bounties now! Their king—! Needs them!"

To be continued.