Side Story Chapter 260

Side Story Chapter 260

Even Cain was surprised by the turn of events. Grand Duke Lucifer used to be called the Crimson Sky, just like how the Emperor of Avalon was titled the Martial God Sky, being two of the continent’s three Celestials. However, it was hard to connect that lofty personage with the corpse being mashed under the feet of Swallow’s knights.

Cain’s superhuman senses could easily see Lucifer’s head being thoughtlessly kicked this way and that whenever it happened to get in the way. In fact, the head was so damaged that Cain couldn’t even recognize Lucifer’s face anymore. It was such a miserable ending for a man who used to be more powerful than his own emperor.

“...This is no time to be sentimental,” Cain murmured.

Despite the way every muscle in his body screamed and his critical injuries, Cain drew up his mana. Even as blood spurted from every orifice and wound, he persisted. He could not lose the next emperor of Avalon.

Thud!

Cain barreled forward like a raging bull. Despite his late start, Cain quickly pulled ahead of everyone else.

Swallow’s knights reached Kireua first. One of them was about to pick up Kireua when a ray of white light took them by surprise.

“What?”

Cain took two of their heads in short order, and then positioned himself between the rest and Kireua.

“The C-Combat Emperor!”

“...You won’t be able to lay a finger on him unless you kill me,” Cain declared.

The sound of battle grew louder.

“Ohhhhhhhhh!”

“Take them down! The Combat Emperor and Second Prince of Avalon are wounded. This is our chance!”

“Stop them! Stop them no matter what it takes! Protect His Highness with your life!”

Avalon and Swallow’s knights were locked in an intense battle. Avalon was at an obvious disadvantage; even disregarding the Absolutes present, Swallow’s knights outnumbered Avalon’s several times over. Avalon couldn’t even claim a qualitative advantage, considering that their enemy also hailed from an empire.

“...You over there!” Cain shouted at one of the knights just arriving at the battle; he appeared to be a rookie.

“Y-Yes, sir!”

“Carry His Highness on your back and run as far away as possible!”

“U-Understood, sir!”

“Prioritize His Highness’s safety! Do you understand me?!” Cain yelled.

There was no time to waste anymore—anyone could see that Kireua was in critical condition. Cain had to buy time even if it cost him his life.

Cain overwhelmed the area with his mana. Swallow’s knights stumbled backward as the thrumming wall of power rolled over them, even those in the rear. Cain was attracting their attention on purpose.

“I am Cain de Harry, First Knight of the Martial God. Come at me.”

“Combat Emperor! I’m sure that you don’t have a spare life of your own. Loyalty is a virtue, but nothing is more important than your own life. Why don’t you stand down?” a man, apparently the new leader of Swallow’s forces, shouted.

Cain smiled wryly. “My life is of no importance. I will uphold my pride and save His Highness’s life.”

“...You fool.”

“But I must say, Swallow’s hit rock bottom. You people shamelessly bowed to an undead and yet you show no hesitation treating him like this as soon as he’s dead,” Cain said disdainfully. Lucifer’s corpse had been trodden over by so many feet that it was as good as mush.

“Undead? What the hell are you talking about?”

The knight's eyes widened.

A crystal ball in the center of the tree hummed. The fact that it was capable of transmitting despite the jamming barrier covering the area didn’t surprise the knight, but the white fox mask he saw within made him drop to his knee as soon as he saw it.

“Greetings to Fox Master!”

In contrast to before, his eyes were filled with respect and awe.

-You must have gone through a lot.

“I-It was noth—”

The bloody red tree shook its branches as if that didn’t want him to interrupt the conversation.

“I have to give it to you. Brilliant. I can’t believe I actually captured the Prince of Avalon. What do I do now?”

-I need you to lie low until I give you further instructions.

Parts of the tree bulged.

“I’m glad to hear that, actually,” the tree said.

-Pardon?

“I happened to have taken a serious injury, so I’ll have to take it easy for the time being.”

-...I see. Yes, this was indeed the best choice. Even in my previous calculations, the most unpredictable variable from Avalon was Kireua Sanders.

The Fox Master reached the correct conclusion with astonishing ease. In this situation, most people would naturally assume that the Combat Emperor was responsible for Lucifer's injury, but Fox Master was certain that it was Kireua even without being there.

“How fascinating. This is good; I’m glad to see that I made the right choice,” the bloody red tree—no, Lucifer said.

-You flatter me.

“Speaking of which, how do you believe the war will go?”

-...To be honest, I can’t be certain of anything with the Battle God and Martial God involved. If we were talking about Joshua Sanders before he trapped himself in the ice boulder, the chances of his defeat would be ninety percent...

“Wait, that’s how strong the boy named Bel is?” Lucifer asked, surprised. From his experience fighting Joshua long ago, Lucifer knew how incredibly strong Joshua was. He’d been certain that Joshau was absolutely one of a kind.

-...Yes. Indeed, there is no precedent for someone becoming as strong as the Martial God as fast as he did. He was only a teenager when he battled his way through some of the strongest people of the time and became the king of Reinhardt...

“Forget that. I really can’t imagine Joshua Sanders losing.”

-...I certainly hope he doesn’t.

“You hope he...?” Lucifer exuded a faint murderous energy. “Why do you sound like you want that motherfucker to win?”

-Because I do.

“What?”

-I can’t predict what will happen if the Battle God wins, but if it’s the Martial God...

The Fox Master trailed off for a moment but continued with conviction.

-...he will never be able to harm me.