The Princess And The Lord-Chapter 1421: The Long-Awaited Moment III

Zhao Li Xin stretched out his hand. A moment later, a figure materialized out of thin air and collapsed onto the cold floor—it was Lucas.

Barely a second passed before Lucas’s body jerked violently, as if something deep within him was struggling to break free. The sudden convulsion sent a jolt of panic through the room. Everyone’s face turned pale with anxiety.

Without hesitation, Zhao Li Xin stepped forward and pressed his palm firmly against Lucas’s chest. Flames surged from his hand, flowing into Lucas’s body and igniting him from within.

Fire coursed through Lucas’s veins like molten rivers, illuminating the faint outline of red, parasitic roots that coiled around his organs. Zhao Li Xin could feel them writhing beneath the surface, resisting him, stubbornly clinging tightly, refusing to die.

But his flame was faster. Stronger. More relentless.

Every time the roots tried to regenerate, his fire devoured them in return, searing through every twisted vine, every creeping tendril. The creature’s regeneration was formidable, but it was no match for the ancient wrath of Zhao Li Xin’s flame.

He narrowed his eyes, pushing deeper, guiding the fire with razor-sharp focus. As the two powers collided—his flame and the parasitic force entwined within—it was Lucas who bore the agony.

His body trembled violently. His skin flushed a feverish crimson, glowing unnaturally as the heat surged through him. Sweat drenched his clothes, soaking through as if he had been pulled from a storm.

Lory stood frozen, horror etched across her face as she watched her brother writhe under the torment, his pain clear in every strained breath and twisted grimace.

"Xin..." Lory’s voice broke, trembling with desperation, a plea laced in her whisper.

"Just a little bit more," Zhao Li Xin muttered through clenched teeth, his jaw tight as he forced the flames to scour deeper, burning through every last remnant of the parasitic root, hunting the source, the creature known as Scion.

Fredhardt and everyone watching with a stiff expression. Their heart thumping like a war drum, sweat trickled down their back. Jay gripped the edge of the surveillance window, his eyes filled with intense fear, while Clift stood frozen, unable to move as panic paralyzed him.

No one dared to speak or move because they knew this is a critical situation and nothing could go wrong. If they stopped Zhao Li Xin now, Lucas would surely die. The only thing they can do is put their hope on Lory and Zhao Li Xin.

Then, Zhao Li Xin felt it, a writhing presence recoiling within the flames. The Scion was trying to retreat, to hide, but it couldn’t escape the burning light inside Lucas’s body. It screamed in silent defiance.

He suddenly remembered the fire spirit’s cryptic warning: Do not kill it. It would have been easier to reduce the creature to ashes then and there. But the spirit had said it might be useful someday.

He didn’t understand why, but this might have something to do with the creature that was about to attack this world, and for that reason alone, Zhao Li Xin didn’t hesitate to work a bit harder.

Channeling his Qi, he forced the creature downward, pushing it with overwhelming pressure until it was trapped in the solar plexus. Then, using every ounce of his strength and precise spiritual control, he pulled.

The skin on Lucas’s torso rippled and tore slightly—not from damage, but from resistance—as a dark, wriggling mass burst forth and landed directly in Zhao Li Xin’s outstretched hand. The moment it touched him, it let out an inhuman, screeching cry. Zhao Li Xin tightened his grip.

"Now, Lory!" he shouted.

Lory leapt toward Lucas, then immediately pressed both her palms against his wound. Soon, the entire room was engulfed in a bright purple light. There was a burst of warm, gentle radiance that pierced through their skin.

Fargo, Fredhardt, and Stephan felt their old and new wounds gradually healing. Even the aching tension in Stephan’s prosthetic arm vanished, the gears and joints realigning until it moved as smoothly as his real one.

It had been so long since they had felt a pure healing power like this.

"Luc, come back to me! Please..." A mist of the light Lory voice choked with tears..

____________________

Memories struck her mind one after another—sharp, blinding, like the rapid flash of a camera in the dark. Uninvited. Relentless.

Luc’s small, trembling hands clutching hers tightly at their mother’s funeral, his voice breaking as he whispered, "Don’t cry, Lory... I’ll always be by your side."

The scene shifted—

Two teenagers now, sunlight spilling through the window. "Luc! Wake up! We’re going to be late again!" Lory’s laughter rang out as she yanked on his arm, trying to pull him from bed.

Another memory crash in—

A cliffside hunt. Loose rocks gave way under her boots. Her body slipped toward the abyss. "Lory!" Luc’s scream tore through the air as he dove forward, grabbing her hand in a death grip. "Don’t let go! Don’t let go of my hand!"

Lory tightened her grip and shouted, "I won’t!’

Then came the rooftop of Cestine Palace. Stars scattered across a velvet sky. Luc’s eyes burned with quiet desperation as he made her promise.

"When this is all over... stay with me forever. Every step... all the way."Lory’s smile was radiant, her voice light and certain. "I promise!!"

And then—

The final moment.

In a dark cave, a screams come from the distance. Luc’s hand stretched toward her, fingers shaking, eyes wide with horror. "LORY, NO!"

She felt her lips move, though her voice was barely a whisper. "I’m sorry, Luc..."

___________________________

Back in the present, Lory clutched Luc’s hands tightly, pouring the last of her healing power into him. She could feel her energy draining, her strength slipping away like water through trembling fingers—but still, she refused to let go. Not this time. She would never let her brother go again.

The blinding light that had engulfed the room began to wane, its brilliance softening before finally fading into nothingness.

For a moment, silence reigned.

Everyone blinked against the afterglow, eyes adjusting as they stared at Lory still holding onto Luc. No one dared to speak. No one knew if they had succeeded... or failed.

Breaths were held. The air felt heavy, thick—time itself seemed to stall.

Zhao Li Xin’s eyes darted to Lory, his heart pounding in his chest. She remained hunched over Luc’s still form, her arms wrapped tightly around him, her face buried against his chest. From where he stood, he couldn’t see her expression. Was it relief? Or despair?

The room seemed to teeter on the edge of an answer.

Lory’s heart pounded violently in her chest—so loud, so fast, she couldn’t tell if it was her own heartbeat or Luc’s. Tears streamed down her face, hot and unrelenting.

Her shoulders trembled uncontrollably as sobs wracked her body. She couldn’t move. She didn’t dare lift her head. She couldn’t bear to see his pale, lifeless face. If she failed... she didn’t know if her heart could take it.

All of a sudden, A large, trembling palm rested gently on her head, then followed by a faint, muffled voice whispered, "Lo...ry..."

Lory sobbed, stopped instantly, her breath caught in her throat. Slowly—reflexively—she lifted her head, and then she saw a pair of violet eyes similar to hers staring back at her. His gaze was weak and dazed, but unmistakably, he stared at her. Finally, he’s awake!

"Lu...Lucas..." Lory’s voice cracked, trembling as though the word itself might shatter in her mouth.

He didn’t speak at first, just gazed at her in silence. Then, after what felt like an eternity, a weak, melancholy smile tugged at his lips, "You’re... back."

"Lucas!" Her face lit up, tears spilling anew. Joy flooded her trembling voice. But before she could say more, his eyes fluttered shut again. His body went slack in her arms.

"Luc—Lucas! Wake up!" Panic surged through her. She shook him desperately, her voice rising in terror.

The room erupted into chaos. Fredhardt’s face turned ashen, the always calm and poised man now could only stand still, unable to move as if his feet were nailed to the floor. At the same time, Stephan and Fargo stood frozen, their expressions stricken.

Fortunately, Zhao Li Xin remained calm amid the storm. He stepped forward swiftly, placing a firm but gentle hand over Lory’s trembling ones. His steady voice cut through her panic.

"Lory. Calm down."

His words snapped her back like a whip crack. Breath shaking, she looked up at him with wild, tear-streaked eyes.

Zhao Li Xin crouched beside them, fingers pressing to Lucas’s neck. He waited... then exhaled a deep, steady breath.

"The King is fine," he said at last, his tone low and reassuring. "He’s just... exhausted."

Relief rippled through the room. Stephan rushed forward, checking Lucas’s wrist for a pulse. It was faint but steady. The rise and fall of Lucas’s chest confirmed it—slow, but normal.

"He’s okay," Stephan echoed firmly, turning to Fredhardt, who stood stiff and pale like a mannequin. "Call the medical team. Now."

Fredhardt fumbled for his phone, his hands trembling so badly he could barely dial.

The cryo chamber doors burst open moments later. Clift and Jay stormed in, panic written all over their faces.

Their steps faltered when they saw Lucas lying limp in Lory’s arms.

"Is... is Luc—" Jay’s voice broke, her lips trembling.

Clift fell to his knees with a loud thud, seemingly oblivious to the pain. His eyes locked on Lucas, wide with desperation.

"He’s alive!" Fargo’s voice boomed, cutting through the suffocating tension. "Luc is safe! He’s still with us!"

Instantly, relief washed over Clift and Jay. Their panic melted into joy—raw and unfiltered—tears welled in their eyes.

"But we still need the medics. And healers," Fargo added gravely. "Luc and Lory both will need some attention."

"What?" Jay started to speak, but her words caught in her throat.

Lory swayed suddenly, her body going limp. Exhaustion finally claimed her.

"Lory!" Zhao Li Xin moved fast, catching her just before she hit the floor.

Now, both heirs of Lucient lay unconscious—one in Zhao Li Xin’s arms, the other cradled by the floor’s embrace.

A different kind of panic swept through the room—raw and unrestrained.

Fargo moved first, swiftly and carefully lifting Lucas’s limp body into his arms. Zhao Li Xin followed, cradling Lory against his chest, her pale face pressed into his shoulder.

"Hurry up!" Fredhardt’s voice cracked like a whip as he barked at the medical team, his usual calm shattered. "Prepare the recovery room—NOW!"

Jay and Clift scrambled into action. Jay’s fingers trembled as she dialed furiously. "Lydia! Get back to Cestine Palace immediately—we need you ASAP!"

Clift was already calling Maddeline on another line, his voice tight with emotion. "Maddeline, get back to Cestine Palace, right now! Yes, it’s urgent."

The medic team rushed forward, pushing gurneys and equipment into place as doors swung open with loud metallic clangs. The sound of hurried footsteps and frantic orders filled the sterile corridor as the group moved swiftly out of the cryo chamber, carrying with them the fragile hope of Lucient’s future.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺