I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

227 - The Fairy Forest (7)

TL/Editor: raei

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: none

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"That... I cannot say. I'm sorry," the words flowed from Akenidia's lips.

'As expected.'

Zion nodded as if he'd guessed this.

He'd tried probing just in case, but the result was predictable.

Such crucial information wouldn't be revealed so easily.

"Besides causality... not revealing that was one of the contract and bet conditions. You'll probably naturally learn when you, Aurellion, fulfill the contract."

After saying this, Akenidia watched Zion with worried eyes for a moment before speaking again:

"...Though I can give you one clue - when you told us your price for the contract, we found it strange. We thought you could achieve that price by yourself without anyone's help."

Questions filled the goddess's face as she spoke, still not understanding that price even now.

"Yet you made that request, so it seemed you had other thoughts."

Ambiguous words.

He had demanded something from the gods as payment despite being able to achieve it himself.

'Clearly related to the Black Star Force restrictions, but...'

Currently there weren't enough clues to guess beyond this.

'Guess I'll have to go to the world's end after all?'

He'd likely need to meet Luminous, this world's chief deity, there again to ask.

Then-

"Hmm... though I'd like to talk more, it seems we're done for today," Akenidia turned toward the Cradle's entrance and spoke in a regretful tone.

"Has your descent time run out already?"

"No, it's not my problem but yours."

With these words, the goddess lightly waved one hand.

Then-

FLASH!

The air changed like a huge screen and began showing the scene outside the entrance.

'That one is...'

Zion's eyes sank.

The screen showed Liushina, Diana, and the highest-ranking fairies watching ahead with tense expressions.

And facing them stood a single woman.

No, she couldn't be called a "woman."

Though her form appeared human, the power radiating through even the screen wasn't human at all.

Zion knew her identity.

"Archdemon of Jealousy Zeloth."

Without doubt.

No other being in this world could possess such presence with such an appearance.

'Did she come straight here after losing the war?'

The possibility was extremely high.

Though he couldn't understand why specifically the Fairy Forest.

'Perfect.'

A slight smile appeared on Zion's lips.

If Zeloth showed herself this openly, she had likely already seized control of all remaining demon realm forces in the Fairy Forest.

If so, they would soon reveal themselves following her.

Therefore, this was a chance to clean up both the demon realm's influence over the Fairy Forest and one of the Archdemons at once.

'Of course, I'll need enough power.'

With this thought, Zion turned to Akenidia:

"You're right, it's not the time for more conversation. Let's meet again later."

"Yes, though regrettable, I'll wait for our next meeting. I'll serve you mint tea I made myself then, so look forward to it. Well then..."

Zion flinched at her final words and turned his head, but the goddess had already vanished.

And-

"Y-Your Highness Zion!"

High Priestess Spirena, time moving normally around her again, belatedly called out.

Purple light flickered briefly at Jealousy's fingertip as she watched the witch.

In that moment-

SPLAT!

The demon eyes and beast mouths surrounding her, along with Liushina's body, exploded.

Blood and flesh scattered everywhere, shredded so finely not even bone fragments remained.

The Archdemon of Jealousy waved away the blood spray and continued:

"I'm not in the mood to play or show mercy. So I'll end this quickly."

With these words, Zeloth turned toward the remaining people, dismissing the witch from her mind.

"Oh? But what a shame."

A chilling voice reached her ears.

Zeloth flinched for the first time at this voice that absolutely shouldn't be heard and turned toward its source.

But slightly faster than that-

"I don't want to end this quickly."

CRUNCH!

The witch's perfectly regenerated hand grabbed the Archdemon's throat.

---

SWOOSH-

Countless stars began rising over darkness spreading from Zion seated on the rock.

"This is..."

Admiration unconsciously flowed from Spirena's lips watching this wondrous sight like viewing the universe itself.

But as if this wasn't the end, newly risen black stars began absorbing all other stars and growing in number.

Six in total.

But Spirena knew her count of the black stars was wrong.

'There's one more.'

Another black star was slowly revealing its outline among them.

Unlike the others, this newly revealed star was so faint it could barely be seen without careful attention.

As if about to disappear any moment.

No, the seventh star was actually gradually fading.

And Zion's task now was to not just maintain but clearly manifest this star.

'Rising from six stars to seven is far harder than getting from one to six.'

Of course, there was reason for this.

Reaching seven stars in Black Star Force didn't just mean advancing a level - it meant breaking free from the cycle of reincarnation, albeit imperfectly.

In other words, transcending mortal limits toward immortality.

Breaking free from one's destined fate and gaining demigod status - naturally the difficulty was incomparably higher.

'Normally I couldn't even attempt reaching seven stars with my current mid-six star achievement, but...'

Now it was possible.

Because Zion now had the Dark Spirit Ring left by his past self.

No, more precisely, he had the Black Star Force stored within it.

Though another six-star Black Star Force might not help, this stored power was left by his eight-star self.

Therefore, its power density and quality were far higher.

'I'll use this to forcibly tear away the restriction blocking the path to seven stars.'

Though he didn't know what side effects might occur from this never-before-tried method, Zion's face remained calm as usual as he absorbed the ring's Black Star Force.

Both past and present Black Star Force were originally his power, so it couldn't possibly fail.

Even if it did fail, he'd simply turn that failure into success.

SWOOSH-

As he accepted the new Black Star Force, another star began rising over the universe Zion had manifested.

A black star more alien and massive than any that had risen before.

RUMBLE!

The entire World Tree's Cradle shook as if in earthquake from the power waves flowing from this star.

Spirits screamed and fled from Zion's side as if in terror.

"W-what is this..."

Spirena collapsed unconsciously, completely overwhelmed by this strange yet overwhelming sight, muttering blankly.

Finally, as the fully risen new black star began flowing into the faint seventh star- WHOOSH!

All light in the Cradle vanished instantly, as if every fire had been extinguished.