I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

Chapter 12: The Black Forest (3)

"Isn't that Hart, the Lightning Sword?"

"And Ragnod of Red Fortress too."

"Huh, aren't the Seven Great Northern Masters all gathered?"

"What are they planning?"

"I've heard about a purification festival..."

"......"

Zion half-listened to the surrounding mercenaries' chatter while observing the training grounds.

Kwaaaang!

Mercenaries showcasing their abilities, eager to be selected.

The Black Forest, what it was or why it required subjugation, remained a mystery.

Yet, a substantial number of mercenaries had gathered at the fortress.

The reason was the young man and woman nonchalantly sitting on the platform beside the training ground, surveying the scene.

'Were they referred to as the Northern Seven?'

The Northern Seven.

Led by Rain Dranir, the sole daughter of the Lord of Ruin, these seven rising stars had been cultivating a terrifying reputation in the north.

Their skills were already recognized empire-wide, and speculation was widespread that one or two of them might ascend to 'heaven' someday.

'That woman is...'

Zion found himself particularly drawn to Rain Dranir.

Even now, her abilities were terrifying for her age, as the leader of the Seven.

However, Zion knew her potential didn't stop there.

Rain Dranir.

She would be one of the companions of the future hero.

A celestial warrior's talent that only emerges once every thousand years.

The most formidable spearwoman in history.

The Dragon Strike Emperor.

The Divine Spear.

In the future, she would become one of the most potent beings in the Frosimar Chronicles, with all these titles attached to her.

'Not just yet, though.'

Her extraordinary talent would fully bloom through a series of incidents.

Zion recalled that these incidents were linked to the cause of Ruin's destruction.

"Zion Harness."

At that moment, a voice called Zion by his pseudonym.

Thud, thud.

Zion rose from his seat and walked towards the training grounds.

His hair and eyes were dyed black.

He had removed all royal traits from his appearance.

"Are you my opponent?"

A scar-covered, muscular man already stood on the training ground, ready for a fight.

"Isn't that...the Butcher?"

"Indeed. How did a criminal..."

The other mercenaries began to murmur upon recognizing him.

The Butcher, Uro.

He was a notorious figure, linked to numerous crimes, and feared for his brutal tendencies, so much so that the word 'human' seemed inadequate to describe him.

Yet, his formidable skills matched his brutality, which made even public security forces hesitate to apprehend him.

'All these guys are interested in is skill.'

Uro thought to himself as he glanced towards the platform.

Regardless of his thoughts, the Seven on the platform, Rain included, maintained their disinterested expressions despite his entrance.

'I must make a striking impression here to secure a recruitment spot immediately.'

Joining this operation would allow him not only to clear his past sins but also elevate his reputation.

With that in mind, Uro studied his opponent.

A skinny frame devoid of training signs, and dull eyes. Plus, he was unarmed.

It was perplexing how he got selected and made it this far.

"I'm worried someone might die here."

"Will recruitment get stopped because of Uro?"

"I hope he goes easy on him."

The observing mercenaries shared Uro's apprehension, their eyes trained on Zion.

It was understandable as the name Zion Harness was unknown.

Additionally, his adversary was the Butcher, Uro.

'However, on the off chance he's a mage, I'll end this swiftly.'

"Hey, back off now. Don't risk losing something."

Though insincere, Uro murmured and readied himself.

Meanwhile, Zion remained unmoved.

He just gazed at Uro with sleepy eyes from his position.

Was he paralyzed by fear?

Kwang!

Regardless, Uro had no plans of holding back and initiated his attack with full force.

His overwhelming strength, paired with perfectly harnessed mana, placed Uro in front of Zion in an instant.

A speed unimaginable for his bear-like physique.

Swooosh!

Swiftly, Uro's halberd, swung overhead in tandem with his leg, descended to split Zion.

A cruel smile graced Uro's lips.

At that instant, the observant Zion finally moved.

Every motion in this world has a force center.

Numerous force centers arise before forming a single motion, and if even one shifts, the motion distorts.

Black Star River wasn't necessary.

For Zion, a veteran of thousands, no, tens of thousands of battles, locating the Butcher's force center was as easy as flipping his hand.

Tuck.

Just half a beat faster than his opponent.

At the precise moment, Zion's foot gently grazed the side of Uro's shin.

A force no stronger than a child throwing a punch.

But the result was unexpected.

"...Ugh!"

With a sharp cry, Uro's body, now off-balance, veered to the side.

Consequently, Uro's halberd just brushed past Zion.

Zion lightly punched Uro's face, now tilted towards the ground.

Thud!

Even though Uro was only lightly hit, the momentum of the charge propelled his body into the air with a sound like something breaking. He crashed onto the ground and didn't move, possibly unconscious.

"...What?"

"What just happened?"

"Why did Uro fly off?"

The watching mercenaries murmured in shock at the unexpected result.

Zion, who caused this surprise, left the combat arena without any explanations, his eyes scanning the surroundings as if waiting for something.

"It's fun, isn't it?" Hart, who had been observing the fight between Zion and the Butcher from the platform, grinned at Rain beside him.

"He always overpowers his opponents with minimal movement. You'd usually see this approach when someone has a significant skill advantage... but I think he's moving so efficiently because of his physique."

Rain looked at Zion's retreating figure, musing over Hart's words. With such a physique, that would indeed be the only way to suppress an opponent.

"Why are you so interested in the kid?" Ragnor, a tattooed giant, chuckled as he joined their conversation.

"He's skilled, sure, but any of us could do the same. Plus, everyone knows that with a physique like his, one small mistake would be the end. He'd be more of a liability than help if we bring him along."

"I feel the same. That Zion Harness, he seems to be walking a tightrope. He's obviously trained, but... he seems inherently frail," Lian, a clean-cut man in glasses, agreed with Ragnor.

Lian was also one of the Seven Spears but served the Dranir family as Rain's subordinate.

"With his combat sense, he would have made an excellent mage."

"Guess he didn't have the talent for it."

Rain shared their thoughts and sank into her chair with a deep sigh.

"Are there no capable people...?"

She wondered if their hasty recruitment of mercenaries was to blame.

In the past few days, no one had stood out in terms of skill.

At this rate, they might not even be able to mount a proper expedition.

'No, we can't afford any more delays... Huh?'

Rain, who had been observing the mercenaries with a weary expression, suddenly looked puzzled.

A man was confidently striding towards her from the entrance to the fort leading to the training ground.

There was no reason for the tension, considering this was a subjugation hosted by the Seven Spears.

Rain's gaze fixed not on the man's face, but on his legs.

'Could it be...'

Beneath the hem of his attire, his ankle bore a tattoo of a six-headed beast, faint but discernable.

Rain's eyes widened in shock.

"Why is a follower of the Purification Doctrine here...!"

The Purification Doctrine was a minor sect that revered the 'evil' sealed within the Black Forest, which Rain was tasked to conquer. It had insidiously spread throughout the northern part of the empire, infesting the city of Ruin.

A malevolent group known for heinous crimes ranging from kidnappings to murders and human sacrifices.

'How did one slip through our filter...'

Rather than pondering over it, it was time to act.

Rain made a swift decision, gripping her spear tightly.

The appearance of a Purification Doctrine disciple at the mercenary recruitment for the Black Forest campaign was certainly not a good sign.

"Rain?"

The other Seven Spears turned to her, puzzled by her reaction.

"The six-headed beast will arrive."

The disciple of the Purification Doctrine stepped into the training ground and addressed the crowd with his first ominous words.

"...?"

People stopped in their tracks, drawn to the fanatical tone in his voice.

"Our duty is to prepare for his arrival. And..."

The disciple, speaking with a conviction that resonated through the crowd, raised his garment, revealing his bare torso.

"Purge these ignorant non-believers."

His heart bulged grotesquely from his chest, dark red veins snaking outward.

"What, what is that...!"

The disciple's heart started pounding fiercely, the attached veins writhing like serpents.

"Damn, stop him!"

"Through death, you will comprehend. Now..."

The surrounding mercenaries, grasping the gravity of the situation, rushed at the disciple just as his body began to swell ominously, hinting at an impending explosion.

Crash!

A deafening sound echoed as the disciple's head disappeared, replaced by a spear.

Sizzle!

A flash of lightning followed a beat later, marking a trail from the platform to the training ground.

Rain stood at the center of the training ground, the spear that had shattered the follower's head still gripped in her hand.

Lightning swirled around her, reminiscent of a thunder deity making its descent.

"Rain!"

The other Seven Spears quickly rushed to her, their voices carrying her name.

"We've managed to stop it, for now..."

Rain's voice faded as she turned her gaze towards the approaching Seven Spears.

Confusion flickered in her eyes.

Beyond the training ground, at the entrance leading to the inner city, she saw a woman swelling up like a balloon.

'This is a trap!'

Sizzle!

Rain's spear transformed back into lightning, aimed at the ballooning woman.

The distance was too great.

No one could reach her in time.

It's too late.

Running or throwing a spear; both were futile.

Rain's gaze shifted to the building behind the follower of the Purification Doctrine.

It was the office of the lord and her father, Richard Dranir.

"No!"

A desperate scream escaped Rain's lips.

Just then, a massive explosion erupted from the swelling woman.

Rain's vision darkened from the explosive wave of evil energy.

She saw it.

The void next to the explosion where nothing existed.

Then something more alien and ominous than the exploding evil energy appeared.

She saw a darkness that swallowed the entire explosion in one breath.

***

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