The Exalted Prince Lives Again-Chapter 55: Failed Marionette [1]

"Something very deeply unsettling is dwelling there."

Lucien pointed towards the alleyway, rubbing his arms to calm down the goosebumps.

Selene frowned, squinting her eyes towards the place where Lucien pointed.

She took a step forward, but Lucin stopped her.

"How powerful are you?" He asked, his voice low and serious.

"I just broke through into the Elite realm." She answered seriously.

"Let me check it out first."

Selene wanted to stop him, but he instantly added, "I have a way to escape."

He took out a silver disk and placed it on the ground.

Selene understood that his plans included a special skill of his, so she was assured.

She saw their situation and noticed that Lucien was at a disadvantage here.

She was a sorcerer, so she could easily fend for herself, but a weapon was an integral part of a warrior.

"I will fetch you a sword from somewhere quickly. You proceed with caution." She whispered, and Lucien nodded.

She probably knew her way around, since she had been in this place many times before.

Step! Step!

Every step Lucien took, his heartbeat increased.

He could feel the energy levels getting denser and denser with each passing second.

And it felt like the energy was rushing towards the alleyway at a fast pace.

It was as if someone was breaking through or awakening.

But since he also felt a high level of danger, he could rule out the awakening.

Shuu!

He sucked in a sharp breath, carefully tip-toing closer and closer to the alleyway.

Grr!

He heard a growl as he closed in.

He frowned instantly.

Was it a spirit beast?

But it wasn’t even possible in the middle of the city.

His eyes suddenly widened as he remembered something from his past.

’No, that shouldn’t even be possible in the middle of the city.’

He consoled himself, but the idea itself was embedded deep inside his psyche immediately.

His heart was beating fast, and sweat trickled down his forehead.

He was right next to the alleyway now, but something in him was screaming to him.

’Don’t look. Do not look.’

But Lucien did it.

He looked, ignoring his own instincts.

A woman was on her knees, groaning and growling in pain, as her bones popped out of her body, stretching the skin like a tent, and her skin was turning algae green.

Her eyes were turning blood red, and as if blood vessels all around were being destroyed.

A failed Marionette.

Marionettes were humans who were mind-controlled by spirits, where the humans shared powers with the parasite spirits, making them quasi-spirits.

But it was extremely hard to take control over an Exalt, so if the human was only slightly weaker than the Spirit, the Spirit would fail most of the time.

And if the humans couldn’t deal with the residual spirit powers left behind due to the attempt, they might lose control.

Those who lose control after a failed attempt are called ’Failed Marionettes’.

And this particular one was breaking through into the Ascendant realm.

If Lucien didn’t do anything right now, an Ascendant realm failed marionette would be roaming in the city, causing murders before any help arrived.

Grr!

The Marionette noticed Lucien’s presence.

’Fuck!’ He cursed under his breath.

But he still stood there, hoping it would stop its breakthrough and come running for him.

He and Selene could still hope to handle a peak Elite realm failed marionette, but once it broke through, they would be massacred like ants.

But to Lucien’s dismay, the failed Marionette stayed in its place, continuing its breakthrough.

"Everyone run, there’s an unmarked spirit here." He shouted on top of his lungs, attracting everyone’s attention towards himself.

They froze, looking at him weirdly.

Was this a prank?

He wore a mask as well.

It had to be a prank.

But their doubts soon vanished when Lucien took out his smartphone and turned on his flashlight in the alleyway.

Most humans had never seen a spirit for themselves.

But even they could tell the woman in the alleyway wasn’t normal at all.

Eeek! Kyaa! Waah!

They all panicked at once, running away for their lives.

The spirit still did not budge at all.

Lucien was hesitant, but he took out one of his Silver disks, imbued his spirit energy inside, and,

Swish!

He threw it towards the Marionette at full speed.

Failed Marionettes were dumb creatures, acting completely on their instincts, which told them to cause chaos and annihilation.

So naturally, when it noticed the disk coming towards it with intense hostility, the priorities changed.

’Yes!’

He celebrated, even though his heartbeat quickened.

It was both good news and bad news for him.

The good news was that it wasn’t breaking through anymore.

But the bad news was that it only got delayed.

And now, Lucien had an enemy completely out of his league chasing to kill him.

"Lucien, I have the sword," He heard Selene shout from behind.

Lucien looked again, making sure the failed Marionette was aggro’d towards him.

It was.

He instantly vanished from his spot and reappeared where he had left one of his silver disks.

"Do you know about a failed Marionette?" Lucien asked seriously, taking the cheap-looking sword from her hands.

Selene’s eyes widened as well, realizing the weight of what Lucien had just said.

"You mean to say that," She paused, and gulped, "An unknown spirit is in the city without anyone noticing?"

Lucien nodded, "Yes, but we should contain this disaster first."

The roads around were almost deserted when the failed Marionette came out of the alleyway.

Selene retched, "It looks a lot more hideous than I imagined."

"Call the authorities, I will hold it back." Lucien got into his fighting stance and dashed towards the creature, who was running towards him on all fours.

If only Lucien knew how to use the phone fast, then he wouldn’t have had to volunteer to be the bait.

"Be careful!" Selene shouted, "I will join you soon."

The fight had started, and the speed of the creature was insane.

Lucien threw another one of his silver disks toward the spirit, but this time, it dodged.

But that’s what Lucien wanted.

He disappeared from his spot instantly, and Selene used her magic to launch herself away from the spot.

"Hey retard!" Lucien shouted from behind, attracting the confused creature’s attention once again, "Over here."

He had to buy some time for Selene.

He thought the spirit would charge at him again, but then, something strange happened.

It was preparing a fireball in its mouth.

’Fuck me already.’