Exiled Prince: I'm the Unexpected Extra in the Novel-Chapter 177: The Crimson Night [5]

The War for The North [64]

Chapter 177: The Crimson Night [5]

Seeing Lyria imprisoned inside the strange coffin that pulsed with dark, ominous energy, Umbrelion did not hesitate for even a second.

The panic in his eyes lasted only an instant, but his decision was absolute. As the shadows around him wrapped over his body like a cloak, he hissed a single sentence just before disappearing into the darkness.

"Go to hell."

Losing his life in this cursed place was the last thing he wanted.

Luin did not even bother turning his head to watch Umbrelion’s cowardly escape. He had expected it. Umbrelion had never been the kind of person who would risk his life for others. The fact that he had even managed to stand against a terrifying power like Cassian for this long was already against his nature, especially when the enemy before him was the complete opposite of his own abilities.

With Umbrelion gone, a heavy, suffocating silence descended upon the forest.

The only sounds were the cold wind slicing through the air and the eerie rustling rising from the dry branches of the ancient trees.

For several seconds, Luin and Cassian stared at each other without moving, like statues.

Their lips were closed, but their gazes screamed battle cries. Crimson and white eyes clashed, both silently declaring the same truth.

Tonight will be your end.

The moment Luin’s fingers tightened around the hilt of his white sword, Cassian’s form began to ripple. His body melted and reshaped itself.

Within seconds, the imposing enemy standing before the coffin vanished. In his place appeared an ordinary boy with brown hair, a face covered in freckles and acne, hunched shoulders, and a sickly fragile appearance.

The instant Luin saw that silhouette, his eyes widened in horror. His body stiffened and his mouth fell slightly open.

In the next second, the shock turned into pure, uncontrollable rage.

Blood red veins burst across his pure white eyes. He clenched his jaw so hard that the grinding of his teeth drowned out the wind. His fists tightened until his nails pierced his palms, warm blood dripping from his fingertips onto the soil.

"How do you know?" Luin growled, his voice sounding as if it came from the depths of hell.

Cassian tilted his head slightly with the body of the weak, pathetic boy. A crooked, mocking smile formed on his face.

"How?"

He began walking toward Luin with uneven, hunched, pitiful steps.

"Do you really think you managed to replace that pathetic self of yours with the tiny bit of power you gained and the fake ideology you invented and called perfection?"

When only a few centimeters remained between them, he stopped. He lifted his head. Luin was at least two heads taller than him.

Locking eyes with Luin’s trembling white gaze, he delivered the deadliest blow with words.

"You are the most miserable human being, Luin."

Luin could not take it anymore.

With the back of his hand, he unleashed a furious strike. The impact shattered the boy’s face and sent his body flying through the air like a sheet of paper.

But before Luin could even catch his breath, a familiar mocking voice echoed from right behind him.

"Are you angry?"

Cassian stood there again in the same weak child form.

Luin spun around instantly and smashed the boy’s head with the hilt of his sword, crushing his body mercilessly.

Yet in the very same second, another copy of Cassian appeared right in front of him.

"Do you hate me?"

Roaring, Luin grabbed the new body by the throat. Pure white light erupted from his palm and vaporized the boy in seconds without even allowing him to scream. Before the ashes could touch the ground, another one formed several meters away.

"Or are you afraid?"

Luin’s patience finally snapped.

He raised his sword high and drove it into the ground with all his strength. The earth trembled. A massive wave of white mana surged outward like a tsunami, meant to tear apart the new Cassian and erase the entire forest from existence.

But it was useless.

Instead of being destroyed, the forest came alive.

The trees thickened wildly. Roots and branches twisted like serpents and shot forward. Countless thick limbs stabbed mercilessly into Luin’s flesh, pinning him to the spot.

Luin coughed and spat blood onto the ground.

He tried to move, but every time he tensed his muscles, the wooden stakes lodged in his body burrowed deeper, tearing through his nerves.

A few seconds later, the dense and deadly forest slowly thinned.

The trees parted as if making way for their master and Cassian walked out from between them.

He was no longer that pitiful child. Though he remained in his Sovereign form, he had returned to his true appearance. Dazzling white hair and blood red eyes glowing in the darkness.

When he reached Luin, he created a magnificent throne from shadows and roots right in front of him. Calmly sitting down, he crossed his legs and rested his hand under his chin, looking down at Luin from above.

"What’s wrong, you silver haired bastard?" he asked, his voice sweet like poison yet deadly. "You weren’t this weak when you were in the Duchy of Inferna."

With a slight flick of his hand, a pitch black dagger made of chaos appeared in the air. It shot forward and plunged into Luin’s abdomen.

As Luin groaned in pain, another followed. Then another.

"Actually," Cassian said, pointing toward the cracked coffin that trembled with violent energy, "I was planning to take control of Lyria’s mind and have her rewind time. But as you can see, your friend is far more stubborn than she looks. She’s still resisting inside."

His gaze returned to the blood soaked Luin.

"So teleport me back to the castle."

Cassian stood up and approached him. He grabbed Luin’s silver hair soaked in blood and pulled his head back forcefully, staring deep into his white eyes with the darkest abyss in his gaze.

"I promise," he whispered. "If you teleport me back, I will spare your lives."

Luin’s breathing was ragged. Blood poured from the holes in his body, draining his strength.

A strange curse flowed through his veins.

Yet the stubborn fire in his eyes had not faded.

With great difficulty, he parted his lips and spat the blood mixed saliva that had gathered in his mouth directly onto Cassian’s face.

Then he smiled with a hoarse, pain filled yet proud voice.

"You’re still an idiot."