The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne - Chapter 455

455: The Demon Emperor Appears!

(2) 455: The Demon Emperor Appears!

(2) “Guards, restrain Cassian immediately!” Ragan commanded, his voice cold and firm.

Fifteen guards rushed toward Cassian.

But suddenly… Boom!

Demonic energy erupted from his body, sending a shockwave that flung the guards in all directions.

Not just them-Ragan and everyone else nearby were thrown back as well.

Fortunately, Malverna had anticipated this and acted just in time, shielding Elina, Rafine, Shion, and Mikazura from the brunt of the blast.

A terrifying black whirlwind of demonic aura swirled around Cassian.

Slowly, his body lifted into the air, and his appearance began to transform.

His brown hair turned fiery red, while black scales sprouted across his skin.

Lyra quickly cast a magical shield around Ragan and the assembled nobles and princes.

At last, they could breathe a sigh of relief-but the horrifying sight before them sent chills down their spines.

*** “Hahaha!

Finally, the ritual is complete!” In the deepest part of the artificial forest, a man in a black cloak laughed heartily.

He gazed ahead as a thick shaft of black light shot into the sky, merging with the dark barrier that had long shrouded the imperial palace.

“With this, the Demon Emperor will rise!

Hahaha!

All living creatures, bear witness to your destruction!” His scream echoed in every direction.

Then, without warning, a mysterious, irresistible force began to drain the demonic power within him.

His eyes widened, darting frantically from side to side.

“What… what’s happening?

Why is my power-Wait!

No!

Argh!” His body shattered into pieces, rising into the air before merging with the black barrier.

And he was not alone.

The five other men in black cloaks performing the ritual felt the same fate.

Their demonic energy was drawn into the barrier, and their bodies were soon reduced to minced flesh, absorbed completely into the darkness.

*** “Hah… Hah… Hah…” King Maldrin panted, his face flushed red.

He pinned Julius beneath him with his right elbow, the sharp tip of his sword pressed against Lucas’s neck.

“Julius, you’ve lost,” Maldrin said coldly.

The battle had finally ended in his favor.

Although the battle had been difficult and demanded immense effort, he didn’t care at all.

As long as Julius died by his hand, his revenge was complete.

Julius panted as well, yet his expression showed neither fear nor remorse.

“Kill me quickly, Maldrin,” he murmured, slowly closing his eyes.

“I was wrong.

I deserve a death sentence.

But I don’t want it.

So it’s better if you kill me.

Dying by your hand… that is the best fate I could hope for.” During the fight, Julius realized the truth-everything he had done had been a mistake.

Blinded by the devil within his heart, he had become a traitor-not only to his kingdom but also to his family, especially his younger brother.

No wonder his father had denied him the throne-he did not deserve it.

And yet, he knew there was no turning back.

One day, he would have to atone for his sins… in hell.

King Maldrin trembled at Julius’s words.

He hated him.

He wanted him dead.

And yet… he was still his blood brother.

They shared the same father and had once been inseparable.

Tears welled in his eyes as he clenched his teeth in silent anguish.

“Why… why does everything have to end like this!?” He shouted, his voice trembling.

Julius gave a weak smile and pressed the tip of King Maldrin’s sword against his neck.

“Hurry… do it, Maldrin.

I hope my death can at least ease the pain in your heart, even if I know it’s impossible.” The words tightened something in Maldrin’s chest.

He swallowed his grief, took a deep breath, and drove the sword into Lucas’s neck.

Julius’s eyes widened for a fleeting moment before dimming forever.

In his final moments, there was neither rage nor resentment-only a calm smile, as if he were dying exactly as he had wished.

Maldrin lowered his head, his expression unreadable.

He had expected relief, maybe even a sliver of satisfaction.

Instead, his chest tightened with pain.

“Damn it…” He slammed his sword into the ground.

“Why must I endure this, gods?

What did I do wrong?

Why… why me?” He cried out in a thunderous voice, and the next moment, an even more anguished scream tore from his throat.

Nothing was more excruciating than killing one’s own brother.

Had he known it would come to this, he would never have accepted the throne.

He would never have become king.

After ten minutes of relentless grief, he finally regained some composure.

Wiping the tears from his face, he rose slowly and looked at his brother’s lifeless body with cold, indifferent eyes.

“Even though you’re a criminal, you are still my brother,” he muttered, closing Julius’s open eyes.

As he prepared to bury him, something unexpected occurred.

The once-calm sky suddenly erupted with a blinding black light.

Julius’s body glowed with a dark aura-the unmistakable power of a demon.

King Maldrin froze, reaching for his sword, but an invisible force hurled him backward.

Boom!

He crashed into a tree with such force that it toppled over.

Pain shot through his body, and before he could react, he vomited blood.

“What… what’s happening?” He gasped, panic rising in his voice.

Looking up, he saw Julius’s body tear itself apart, pieces rising into the air before vanishing completely.

*** “Argh!

No!

This isn’t what we wanted!

Don’t!” The Cardinal of Gluttony screamed in anguish, clawing at his own face.

In the distance, Luke gasped, his face a mix of confusion and shock.

“What… what just happened to him?” Moments ago, they had been locked in fierce combat.

Yet suddenly, the Cardinal of Gluttony let out a hysterical roar, as if some unimaginable horror had struck.

Crash!

The Cardinal’s body tore apart, pieces soaring into the sky and vanishing before Luke’s horrified eyes.

Badump!

Luke’s heart raced, and his legs trembled uncontrollably.

“W-What just happened?

The Cardinal… he’s dead?

How is that even possible?” “Argh!

No!

Don’t!” Screams of pain echoed from a distance.

Luke was startled and immediately turned toward the battlefield, where his soldiers clashed with the members of the Underworld Gate.

“Could they be… experiencing the same thing?” Luke narrowed his eyes, warily scanning the battlefield.