Chapter : 633
Chapter : 633
Prince Ares stopped pacing. He glared at Zinia. He absolutely hated losing. His pride was severely damaged. He wanted to crush them. He wanted to prove his physical dominance. But he knew he could not do it today. He needed to rethink his strategy. He needed to find out their secret.
Ken sat on his rock. He slouched his shoulders even further. He let out a long, quiet sigh.
"This guy is a sore loser," Ken analyzed lazily in his mind. He popped another gummy ring into his mouth. "This is exactly like a competitive online match. The other player loses the game. They refuse to admit they played badly. So, they accuse the winning team of using hacks. They scream into the microphone. They say they are going to report us to the server admins. It is very sad. He just needs to practice more."
Ken looked at the angry Prince. He decided to offer some very helpful, completely sarcastic advice.
"You should really try taking a nap, Prince Ares," Ken suggested casually. His voice echoed across the room. He gave a big, goofy smile. "Naps are great for frustration. If you sleep for an hour, you will wake up feeling very refreshed. Your anger will totally vanish. I highly recommend it."
Prince Ares turned his head. He stared at Ken. If looks could kill, the 4th Prince would have melted Ken into a puddle of goo.
"You will not mock me, commoner," Prince Ares warned coldly.
The 4th Prince stood entirely straight. He prepared to deliver his final, intimidating monologue. He wanted to leave the room looking strong. He wanted to ensure the 13th Unit knew this war was far from over. The real, ultimate confrontation was still waiting for them.
Prince Ares stood near the dark tunnel exit. He glared at the 13th Unit. His dark eyes locked onto Princess Iris. He did not look defeated. He looked incredibly stubborn. He wanted to make an excuse for his tactical failure.
"You think you are superior because you survived this cavern," Prince Ares stated. His deep voice echoed off the wet stone walls. He waved his hand toward the dark lake water surrounding the magical bubble. "You think you actually overpowered my vanguard. You are completely delusional."
Princess Iris did not lower her silver rapier. She kept her posture perfectly regal. "We hold the artifact, Ares. We secured the area. The results speak for themselves."
"The results are skewed!" Prince Ares shouted angrily. He pointed a finger at the wet marble floor. "This environment is entirely flawed! We are fighting at the absolute bottom of a submerged crater lake. The ambient water pressure is massive. The humidity is ridiculous. The air inside this bubble is completely stale."
Ken Eliot sat on his piece of broken concrete. He slouched his shoulders. He reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small piece of wrapped strawberry candy. He unwrapped it slowly. He popped it into his mouth.
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"He is totally blaming the map," Ken thought casually to himself. He chewed his candy. "He is complaining about the water level. I completely agree with him. Water levels are the absolute worst. They ruin movement speed. But you cannot just blame the map when you lose. A good gamer adapts to the terrain. He is just making terrible excuses."
Prince Ares clenched his fists. His dark red armor clanked softly.
"My magic relies entirely on kinetic accumulation," Prince Ares explained loudly. He wanted everyone to know his power. "I build explosive physical force through motion and impact. But this damp, wet environment completely absorbs my kinetic energy. The water pressure ruins my momentum. My strikes are severely reduced. I am fighting at a massive disadvantage."
Laxmi tossed a tiny orange spark into the air. She laughed a loud, mocking laugh.
"Are you seriously crying about the water?" Laxmi grinned wildly. She pointed at her own bright orange dress. "I am a fire user! I am surrounded by an entire lake! My magic is literally the opposite of water! But I am not complaining! I just punch harder! You are just being a big baby!"
"I am not a baby!" Prince Ares roared furiously. His face turned a bright shade of red. He absolutely hated being mocked by Laxmi.
"Laxmi is correct," Sayma added politely. The intelligent Vice-Captain pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. She opened her neat notebook. "Tactical adaptability is a core requirement for a Royal candidate. Blaming the geographic location for a combat failure highlights a severe flaw in your strategic planning."
Prince Ares gritted his teeth. He hated their calm, logical arguments. He wanted to smash something. But he knew he had to leave.
"Mock me all you want," Prince Ares sneered coldly. He took a slow step backward toward the dark tunnel. "This underwater playground saved you today. But the Succession War does not end here. We will not stay at the bottom of a lake forever."
Prince Ares raised his hand. He pointed a firm finger directly at Princess Iris.
"I am delivering a promise, Iris," Prince Ares declared. His voice was full of absolute, uncompromising determination. "Our next encounter will occur on the surface. We will fight on solid, dry earth. We will fight under the open sky. In that environment, my kinetic power will be totally unrestricted. I will unleash my maximum explosive force. I will shatter your pathetic little vanguard into dust."
Princess Iris did not flinch. Her violet eyes shined with pure bravery. She stepped forward.
"We will be ready for you on the surface, Ares," Princess Iris stated smoothly. "We do not fear your kinetic magic. But before you leave, you need to answer a very serious question."
Princess Iris narrowed her eyes. She pointed her silver rapier at the spot where the dark dome had been. She pointed at the spot where the assassin vanished.
"You brought a foreign killer into this labyrinth," Princess Iris accused fiercely. "You brought Reddy. The Shadow Weaver. He is a legendary assassin from the nation of ZulFarah. ZulFarah is our sworn enemy."
Naomi stepped up right beside the Princess. The red-haired vanguard leader gripped her twin silver daggers. Her green eyes flashed with intense anger. She remembered the terrifying dark dome. She remembered the assassin trying to strike them in the pitch-black void.
"The Princess is absolutely right," Naomi shouted loudly. She glared at Prince Ares. "You embedded a foreign killer inside your vanguard! You used him to bypass our defenses! You hired an assassin from a rival nation to fight your own sister! That is not just cheating. That is complete, undeniable treason against the Belmontia Empire!"
Zinia crossed her muscular arms. The strong earth mage scowled deeply. "Treason is a massive crime. If the Emperor finds out you brought a ZulFarah spy into the capital, you will be stripped of your royal title instantly. You will be thrown into the Imperial Prison."
Prince Ares stopped walking. He looked at the angry girls. He blinked his dark eyes in pure confusion.