Spiral of Madness: Ascension of the Villainous Dragon Prince-Chapter 80: Clearing The Corrupted Domain [2]

A massive explosion engulfed the barrier, cracking it and nearly shattering it, but it held long enough. Louis summoned a spear of Holy Light, born from reversed Ashen Frost, and swung it forward, channeling his mother’s inheritance.

"Holy Dragon Lance Style."

"First Form – Radiant Fang!"

Thrusting his spear forward in rapid succession, Louis pierced through the monster’s body while charging toward it. Each strike resembled the sharp fangs of a Holy Dragon.

"Second Form – Celestial Claw!"

Following Radiant Fang, Louis’s Aura, shaped like a holy dragon, swiftly transformed. Blindingly bright claws surged downward, each piercing claw a thrust of his spear as Louis evaded dozens of vines.

He took some damage but clenched his teeth and pressed on. His spear glowed to its maximum as he released all the charged Fantasium with the Third Form.

"Third Form – Heavenly Dragon Ascent!"

He thrust the spear upward as he leaped down. A pillar of light surged from beneath, impaling the entire monster’s body and generating a massive explosion. The roar of a dragon made of light echoed as it destroyed half the Level 3 Entity’s body.

"T-There it is!"

Louis spotted the Core in the head shattering, revealing the two remaining cores in the monster’s second half. It had skillfully shifted them there to hide from his devastating attack.

"Aim for the cores! Now!"

While falling toward the swamp below, Louis called for help. But they were already descending through the large gap he had created. Anastasia and Mirai plunged inside, reaching the two glowing cores connected by vein-like vines pulsating with Fantasium and Miasma.

"---!!!"

The Entity roared, rapidly closing the entrance while sharp vines covered in golden spikes emerged from the surrounding walls. They seized the girls’ legs and arms, halting their advance.

"Ugh?!"

"Damn it!"

As they struggled, a giant red crab claw dug through the Entity’s chest, tearing off a large chunk of vines and black miasma. The golden blood burned the claw, but its massive size and defensive runes allowed it to endure.

"Do it!" Zorba called, infusing his Enslaved Souls into Hecatoncheires to empower it. He forced his zombie to tear open more of the Entity, even as vines began slowly ripping the arms apart.

Anastasia and Mirai nodded. With no time to waste, their energies surged around their bodies and erupted with full power. Anastasia channeled her Internal Sword Energy through Sword Breathing into her Ice Spirit Blade, the sword gifted by her mother before departing. Mirai imbued hers into her sharp demon claws.

Both girls charged like red and blue blurs. They pierced through vines, eyes, and burning golden blood, shattering the two crystal cores simultaneously, seconds before the third could fully recover.

"---!!!"

With a guttural, alien groan, the Entity began crumbling into pieces. Its vines withered and dried instantly. Without its three cores, it could no longer regenerate endlessly through Fantasium absorption. It died in seconds.

"Now...!"

Louis immediately rushed to the area where the Entity perished, catching Anastasia and Mirai with his skeletal wings shaped into giant bony hands. He retrieved the three large, shattered cores before the swamp could consume them.

"Oh, thank you, Prince Louis," Anastasia said, relieved to be caught.

"That was tougher than I imagined..." Mirai sighed. "Having three cores is really tricky..."

"Level 4 Entities have four, Level 5 have five, and so on," Louis explained. "Knowing how an Entity works and where the largest concentrations of Fantasium are located is the best way to pinpoint their cores and destroy them. Teamwork is also essential, especially when you need to destroy all cores within a time limit before they begin to regrow."

"That seems so complicated," Anastasia sighed as Catrise arrived and began healing them. "Catrise, have you fought stronger Entities before?"

"I participated in multiple Fantasy Field Raids a few decades ago, when we were clearing this territory to establish our country," Catrise replied. "I faced Level 4 Entities back then. I was stronger when Queen Benladra wasn’t ill. Her power flowed to all her believers, especially us War Priests, who received a fragment of her divine strength through her Blessing. Now, I doubt I could handle a Level 3 Entity alone without a powerful, complex Spell Formation."

"I see..." Louis nodded. "Well, how about using one of those now? We should cleanse this area easily since the Vessel is gone. I’m tired of being stared at by that creep."

"Creep?" Mirai asked. "Ah, you mean the moon—"

"Don’t look at it!" Anastasia quickly stopped Mirai from gazing at the dark skies.

Louis and Catrise finished their work by placing Fantasium Purifying Pillars and a powerful Holy Dragon Magic Formation. It cleansed the remaining Corrupted Field and, at long last, fully purified the Red Leaf Household’s Farmland Territory.

"It’s done..." Louis inhaled the fresh air and sighed in relief. "Very well. We’ve secured quite a few Entity Cores. Once purified, they’re high-quality materials. We could even eat them. I’ll help myself to a few."

On the way back, Louis and Mirai snacked on Fantasium Crystals, growing stronger as their maximum reserves increased significantly until they reached their limit. This was a unique trait of Sinners, especially Spiralwalkers with an Awakened Fantasy Heart. They could consume Fantasium Materials directly and absorb them.

Depending on quality, the materials converted into Fantasium Energy, granting a permanent boost to internal reserves. However, this couldn’t continue indefinitely. After consuming a certain amount of one type, it lost effectiveness.

Fantasium Crystals from Entity Cores provided the greatest boosts. After eating one core each, they gained no further power. Still, it increased their maximum Fantasium by +400, making it well worth it.

Once they left the purified land, they stepped outside where Lady Red Leaf, Agustina, Juliette, and the children, Selene and Melisa, greeted them with enthusiastic clapping to celebrate their victory.

"Well done, everyone! Congratulations, Your Majesty!" Juliette clapped. "Robert said he wished he could congratulate you in person, but he still needs rest."

"Thank you so much for what you’ve done, Prince Louis," Lady Red Leaf said. "To think you and your companions would risk your lives to save my estate. I cannot begin to express how I might repay such kindness."

"It’s fine," Louis replied. "We can discuss negotiations regarding your services as a Spirit Blacksmith and commissioned crop harvests later."

"Um...! Prince Louis! T-Thank you so much..." Agustina approached, gratitude shining in her eyes. Louis remembered his first impression of her as a cocky, spoiled young lady. She still carried some of that air, but she had changed considerably. "I... I know words alone could never be enough, so I will show my gratitude through actions. I won’t waste my life. I will become someone you can rely on one day..."

"I appreciate it, young lady," Louis said. "And don’t worry. I wasn’t planning on letting you go. You’ll stay with me, and I’ll personally oversee your training. I’ll help you unlock all your potential."

Agustina swallowed nervously as Louis held her hand, his gaze locked on hers. Her lips trembled. Unsure how to read his signals, she took the chance. "Ah, Prince Louis... So you really...?" She closed her eyes and leaned forward, lips parted in anticipation.

That never came. Louis released her hand and walked past toward the mansion. "Is Robert awake? I should share the good news."

"Guh?!" Agustina flushed with embarrassment as Prince Louis continued on, completely misinterpreting his kindness.

Her mother sighed, patting her shoulders to comfort her as Agustina hid her face in mortification. "I’m sorry, dear. But... I don’t think Prince Louis meant it the way you thought."

"Aahhh, I must have looked like an idiot!" Agustina groaned, tugging at her hair in frustration.

Mirai and Anastasia pitied her and helped ease her sudden embarrassment, explaining that Prince Louis was known for using his charm to achieve his goals but never committing to romantic relationships.

"Yeeaaah, I was foolish. I shouldn’t have assumed," Agustina sighed, shoulders slumping. "What was I even doing? I hope Prince Louis didn’t notice..."

Mirai patted her shoulders with comforting words. "I’m sorry about that, but you should know you’re not the only one who’s misread his signals..."

"Ah, you two as well?" Agustina asked, eyes widening.

"What? No, not me..." Anastasia shook her head. "I think Mirai likes him... well, it’s pretty obvious."

"Wow, really?" Agustina murmured, her gaze sharpening for some reason. "I... I see..."

"At the end of the day, it’s not for us to decide," Mirai sighed. "Prince Louis is a very special person, and... I don’t think he experiences emotions the way we do, at least not as we imagine."

Agustina tilted her head, confused by Mirai’s words. "What do you mean, Mirai?"

"It’s... hard to explain," Mirai said with a bitter smile. "But at this point, you should know more about who Prince Louis truly is..."

Through Mirai, Anastasia, and Catrise, Agustina learned deeper truths about Prince Louis. He wasn’t just the perfect, handsome prince she had imagined but someone deeply broken and tormented. Discovering his mental struggles revealed how fragile he was beneath his facade of strength and ruthlessness, a mask he wore to shield his vulnerability from the world.

"Prince Louis..." After understanding who he really was, Agustina’s feelings didn’t fade but grew stronger. "I was selfish... I only thought about myself. I should apologize later."