Chapter 110: Ascalon (5)

Chapter 110: Ascalon (5)

TL/Editor: Rungir

Schedule: none

Illustrations: none

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The light that filled the surroundings began to fade away.

With it, Zion's vision slowly returned.

"Prince Zion!!!"

Rohanna's almost tearful face came into view.

Had she been suffering greatly in her heart?

In the brief moment since he met the Black Dragon Kalonix in the forbidden area, the area under Rohanna's eyes had turned much darker.

"Are you unharmed, Prince Zion?"

She practically ran to him, scrutinizing his whole body.

Only after a thorough check did Rohanna let out a sigh of relief.

It would have been a grave matter if any royal was harmed within the Ascalon family's domain.

Had anything happened to Zion, she, who was in charge of guiding him, couldn't have escaped severe punishment.

"Could it be... did you enter the forbidden area and come back?"

"Yes."

Zion nodded in response to Rohanna's question.

"I see. Understood."

Rohanna's eyes filled with surprise at his answer, but she didn't ask anything more.

Perhaps she decided not to concern herself with information beyond her current status.

A commendable mindset for a subordinate.

"Also, Prince Zion."

With those words, Rohanna, now closely beside him, opened her mouth just loud enough for Zion to hear.

"The head of the Ascalon family has regained consciousness. Let's go right away."

The Cheongeomdang (Heavenly Sword Hall) of the Ascalon family was where the head of the family resided.

Its size was enormous, rivaling even the palaces within the Imperial City.

Although not as large as the Baeksung Palace, it seemed comparable to the size of the five castles surrounding it.

When Zion entered the head's bedroom in Cheongeomdang, he smelled a familiar scent.

The scent of death.

It was the same scent he had encountered in the bedroom of the late Emperor Urdios.

"Greetings to His Highness, Prince Zion Agnes."

Inside the bedroom, there were already guests.

Three middle-aged men, greeting Zion.

They were the current head's sons.

Each held the first, second, and third places in the succession order.

"I apologize for not being able to bring you here sooner, Your Highness."

Raily Ascalon, second in the line of succession, bowed deeply and spoke to Zion.

Unlike his other two brothers, who looked like typical warriors, Raily had a gentle demeanor, almost scholarly.

And just like his appearance, Raily was known to be the head of the Ascalon family.

"My father's condition suddenly worsened, and we had to take urgent measures, which caused the delay."

Raily's exceedingly courteous demeanor reassured Zion once again that the Ascalon family had decided to follow him.

"Please come this way, Prince Zion. My father has been longing to see you."

'Everyone must be thinking that the head of the family is close to death, and it makes sense.'

With that thought, Zion glanced at the three brothers and approached the bed where the head of the family lay.

Gradually, the figure of an old man came into Zion's view.

Ludwig Ascalon.

The head of the Ascalon family, the empire's greatest Sword Clan, and the Heavenly Sword Clan.

He was a unique entity who had achieved an unparalleled realm in the field of swordsmanship, earning the title of Sword King.

And as the fourth of the 'Seven Heavens', he was a monster who far surpassed the limits of the human species.

But,

'As expected...'

The Ludwig that Zion saw was in such a pitiful state that it was hard to believe he was the same person.

His body was gaunt, and his face was covered in black spots.

Sssk, sssk.

The sound of his death-filled breathing escaped his lips.

His appearance was all too similar to the late Emperor Urdios that Zion had once seen.

'It couldn't be helped.'

After all, the cause of Ludwig's condition was the same as what had killed Urdios.

'Heaven's Poison.'

A poison effective only on those transcendent beings who had reached the 'Heaven'.

The period until full intoxication was decades long, and the conditions for poisoning were exceedingly stringent, but once afflicted, it was absolutely incurable.

And, naturally, there was only one place that used such a poison.

How could Prince Zion possibly know about their existence?

"What do you mean by that"

"There's no use pretending. I'm talking about the group that Lucas Ascalon is a part of."

"."

Ludwig fell silent at Zion's mention of the group's leader.

Supporting Prince Zion was one thing, but handing over the hidden power of the family was an entirely different matter.

'As expected, he won't accept it right away.'

Zion smiled slightly, observing the hesitant Sword King.

He had anticipated this reaction.

Therefore, Zion put forth another card he had prepared.

"If you hand them over, I'll also cure your illness."

"!!!!!"

At Zion's words, Ludwig's eyes widened to an extent that was incomparable to before.

The same was true for the three heirs who had quietly approached.

"What do you mean, Prince Zion!"

"You can cure my father's illness?"

The Sword King's condition had never improved, despite everything they tried.

That's why, even coming from Zion, they found it hard to believe.

The complex emotions in their eyes and the agitated atmosphere in the room.

Zion subtly observed the reaction of one of the heirs.

Then,

"Is that true?"

Ludwig, with trembling eyes, asked in disbelief.

He knew the exact state of his body.

A condition that could not be cured unless a god performed a miracle.

That's why he had already given up on treatment.

"I do not say I can do things that I cannot."

Zion replied lazily to the Sword King.

It was the same 'Heaven's Poison' as Urdios had, but several things had changed since then, making this statement possible.

Firstly, the level of his 'Black Star Technique' had significantly improved, and Ludwig's condition was much better than the late Emperor's.

It seemed that he hadn't been fully poisoned for very long.

'With this level, the Black Star Technique can negate the poison inside.'

Of course, it would have to be done several times due to his weakened body.

"Really."

As certainty filled Zion's words, Ludwig's eyes began to fill with hope.

If he could really be cured, handing over the hidden swords to Prince Zion would be an easy decision.

His life was worth that much, if not more.

"Then consider it accepted."

Seeing Ludwig, Zion slightly lifted the corner of his mouth and lazily extended his hand.

He could start the treatment right away, but there was something he needed to do first.

"And there's something I want to ask."

"Please, go ahead."

The Sword King looked at Zion, as if asking what it was.

"What are you planning to do first, once you're healed?"

"What? What do you mean"

Ludwig's eyes filled with confusion at the question, but Zion continued.

"Before coming here, I met the Black Dragon."

"!"

"He said something. That what he wants now and what you, as the head of the family, want are the same."

At those words, Ludwig's eyes, which had momentarily held a dazed expression, slowly began to darken.

Soon, a cold voice flowed from his lips.

"First, I would need to deal with the vermin that are eating away at the entire family."

"And what if one of those vermin is right here, right now?"

Zion, looking at the Sword King with lazy eyes, asked again.

Swoosh-

Simultaneously, Eclaxia slipped into the hand that Zion had lazily extended.

"Of course, I would need to cut off their breath immediately, wouldn't I?"

Ludwig replied, his eyes coldly gleaming.

"Your Highness, why suddenly the sword?"

The heirs, who were watching from the side, voiced their confusion at that moment.

"I think so too."

Smirking at Ludwig's words, Zion, swish!

With Eclaxia, he cut the throat of Ludwig's second son, Raily Ascalon.