The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic - Chapter 431
Chapter 431: 431
“The screen has been cut off so no one will witness this..”
“What did you say?”For a moment,Kael felt as if his ears were ringing aloud.
Then he saw the man’s expression which had taken a completely different turn.
Leonard’s voice quivered but carried a strange warmth. “Don’t give up… and don’t die. Unlike before, you’re not alone anymore. Once you step out of this world, you’ll find them—the ones who’ve been waiting for you. The ones reaching out their hands to pull you back.”
“You aren’t alone this time..Even if the sky falls…They will be there beside you to hold it so..”
He paused and smiled faintly. “So you too… live well, Kael.”
Kael’s eyes widened as light began to pull his body away, dragging him out of the collapsing space.
“What…?” was all he managed to whisper before his consciousness began to fade, his heart heavy with sorrow and warmth all at once.
Leonard’s final smile stayed burned in his mind as everything turned to white.
…….
When Kael opened his eyes, the world around him was dim and quiet. His head felt heavy, and his body ached as if crushed under the weight of something massive.
Slowly, his blurry vision began to clear, and he realized he was lying on the cold, stone floor of a familiar place the underground basement beneath the Colosseum’s main stage.
He pushed himself up, his arms trembling slightly, and looked around. Several familiar figures were scattered across the room, groaning and slowly getting back on their feet. The faint echoes of chaos still rang in his ears, but here, it was eerily silent.
Before Kael could even process what had happened, loud voices filled the basement.
“Now what the hell was that?” Vic shouted, clutching his hair in disbelief. “The whole world just broke apart like it was made of glass!”
Verion slammed his hand against the wall, his face twisted in shock. “Yeah, and then it just… stopped. What the hell even happened out there?”
“Damn it,” another voice muttered. “I didn’t even get the chance to fight properly. I was waiting for the main event, hiding my power the whole damn time.”
“Shut up!” Martina snapped, glaring sharply at him. Her voice echoed through the basement, cold and steady.
Roosevelt crossed his arms beside her, his tone equally harsh. “You’re lucky you’re still breathing after that disaster.”
Herion, still sitting on the ground, rubbed his head and groaned as he tried to stand. “Wait… why did everything stop like that?” he asked, his tone uneasy. “Who won the damn war anyway?”
That one question made the whole room fall silent. The air grew heavier, the uncertainty sinking into everyone’s chest.
Kael finally stood up fully, brushing the dust off his clothes. His voice was calm but firm. “Let’s go outside and see what happened.”
Everyone nodded hesitantly. Just as they were about to move, a group of royal servants entered the basement. The servants bowed politely and said, “Everyone, please follow us. His Majesty requests your presence at the main stage.”
The group exchanged glances before following them. The narrow corridor soon opened up to the grand Colosseum, where sunlight poured in through the open arches. The crowd was already roaring with excitement, their cheers shaking the air.
Kael squinted at the bright light and scanned the area. On the ground, he spotted Rein, Adele, and several others already standing in the center. He could tell from their faces that they, too, were just as confused.
Soon, a powerful voice boomed across the Colosseum.
“All Royal Princes and Princesses, please stand in line!”
Martina and Roosevelt stepped forward immediately, followed by the others. They formed a neat line under the blazing sun, and when Kael looked up, he saw the Emperor seated on the high balcony. His gaze was sharp and unreadable, as though trying to pierce through each of them and uncover the truth behind what had occurred.
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder until Verion finally shouted, “The virtual world collapsed! So how are we supposed to decide the winner now?”
The officials exchanged glances until Pleard, one of the royal adjudicators, stepped forward with a calm smile. “Since the simulation ended unexpectedly, we will decide the results based on the points accumulated by each participant until the interruption.”
He raised a scroll and began to announce the rankings.
“Fourth place, Prince Verion—10,000 points.”
“Third place, Prince Rein—20,000points.”
The crowd clapped as the list continued.
“Second place, Prince Roosevelt—53,000 points.”
“And finally, first place…” Pleard’s voice rose dramatically, echoing through the arena. “Princess Martina Barret, with an outstanding score of 80,000 points!”
The Colosseum erupted in cheers and applause. People rose to their feet, waving flags and shouting her name. Martina stood straight, her expression calm but her lips curved slightly in pride.
Roosevelt turned his head sharply toward her, his eyes wide. “What the hell? Eighty thousand? That’s insane!”
Martina shrugged and smirked faintly. “Just accept it,Brother Roosevelt. You can’t win them all.”
Roosevelt clicked his tongue and muttered, “Damn it… this feels like you cheated.”
Before she could respond, a cold voice cut through the noise like a blade.
“This is utter bullshit.”
The cheering stopped almost instantly. Heads turned across the stands, and every gaze shifted toward the source of the voice. It came from Rein.
She stepped forward, her face pale but her eyes blazing with fury. “This entire thing—this whole event feels bullshit. And it’s unfair!”
Her voice echoed across the Colosseum. The officials froze, whispering nervously among themselves. The Emperor leaned slightly forward, his gaze darkening.
Martina’s expression hardened, while Roosevelt frowned. Kael stood silently, watching Rein’s trembling figure as she glared up at the royal dais.
Rein clenched her fists. “You think this was fair? You think what happened out there was just a game?”
Her voice trembled, but it carried strength. The crowd’s excitement faded into uneasy murmurs. No one dared to interrupt as the tension in the Co