Witch, Fireball and Steam Evil God

Chapter 433 Guns and Fire

Enemies of God?

What is that woman muttering about again?
Cedric didn't understand, nor did he want to understand. From the moment he met the warden, he felt that this woman was somewhat neurotic. Many things that had happened recently were indeed beyond his comprehension, but no matter what, his thoughts would not change.

"My target is that red-haired woman."

"Cedric said in a deep voice."

With the same red hair and the same ethnicity, he felt a strange connection to the other side from the moment they met.

Perhaps, this is some kind of destiny.

So, in accordance with their clan's tradition, they chose the strongest member of the clan through a duel, and the victor would lead the clan and guide everyone into a new era.

"As you wish, you will soon see her. Now, return to the prince's side."

"That's what the warden said."

At the same time, everyone on the fifth level tensed up.

Someone sounded the alarm, and the piercing sound echoed through the prison area for a long time, which meant the arrival of intruders.

Since the Violet Commune incident, the prison has been invaded once again.

“Sure enough, sure enough!”

The tense atmosphere and the sound of the jailers' footsteps made the eldest prince temporarily put aside his unpleasantness with the Thousand-Faced Witch. After all, he did not have an irreconcilable conflict with the prison's watchdogs. But Balmont and the remnants of the resurrected Violet Commune were different; they were acting with the aim of overthrowing the rule of the Henry royal family and destroying the empire.

This is also part of his plan.

Accompanied by the man in the black cloak, he strode into Balmont's interrogation room. Balmont was pale from blood loss and had been rendered unconscious by the intense torture. Several prison doctors were around him, using their tools to stop the bleeding and disinfect the wound.

Before sending Balmont to prison, the eldest prince contacted the capital's newspapers to announce his crimes to everyone, as well as the unforgivable blood of a sinner flowing in Balmont's veins.

He understood the Violet Commune. Even knowing it was a dead end, those passionate remnants would still rush into prison like moths to a flame. This had been true in the past, and it was true now.

However, they knew nothing about prisons or the "fire".

This will become their grave.

"Just you wait, Balmont!"

Regardless of whether the unconscious Balmont could hear him, the eldest prince declared loudly, "They will all die before you; this is my promise to you!"

And this will be the final step for him to ascend the throne.

Suppressing the rebellion and wiping out the remnants of the Violet Commune—this achievement ensures that no one in the empire will be able to challenge his throne, just like his father!
After saying that, the eldest prince looked at the man in the black cloak and said, "I want to personally oversee the battle!"

This was his first and most loyal follower, and he deserved to witness this historic moment.

The prison guards were setting up defenses in the western section of the prison—the area that connects to the fourth level. They had conducted countless drills for this, equipped themselves with firearms, and stood guard behind the defenses. Some of the "veterans" still remembered the rebellion decades ago, but in the end, the invaders failed to reach them.

Before they even reached the fifth level, they had already been slaughtered by the watchers of each level.

"do not be afraid!"

The older prison guard rallied the troops before the arrival of the rebels, saying, "The Watchers are invincible! Even if those intruders have extraordinary abilities, they cannot cross the Watchers' defenses!"

This is the fifth level, the deepest point that guards and prisoners can reach. Before they can reach it, they must defeat the watchers of the first four levels. Only then can they open the passage connecting the two levels.

The only thing that made them uneasy was that the Thousand-Faced Witch seemed a little unstable today, and she hadn't come to the western defense line even after the warning had been sounded for a long time.

Before long, a commotion arose in the crowd.

"It's His Highness the Prince! His Highness the Prince has come personally to oversee the battle!"

This news brought an unprecedented boost to morale. This was their chance; if they could gain the prince's favor in battle, they might be transferred from the prison to some more important departments.

Imperial Army, Royal Guard, and even the guards of nobles and royalty.

Their treatment and status were far better than those of the prison guards. More importantly, they no longer needed to stay by the side of these unpredictable monsters and would not lose their lives because of a careless thought.

Everyone held their breath, staring intently at the entrance leading to this level.

At the same time, the warden, who had sounded the alarm, looked around the room, which was unrecognizable due to the explosion. Her gaze finally settled on a thick manuscript, which, like the parchment book in her hand, had not been shattered by the explosion and had become one of the few "survivors" of the blast.

She bent down and picked up the manuscript.

Above are lines of crooked, illegible handwriting.

Then, a gust of wind, seemingly from nowhere, blew the manuscript, freezing it on one page. This caused the warden's eyes to widen in surprise, for she once again saw that familiar line of text:

"One day, people will discover the truth about the 'Game of Heroes,' and when that time comes, the true heroes will lead them to take up arms and challenge the 'gods.'"

"Heh...hehehehe."

The warden suddenly laughed, uttering those familiar, passionate yet thoughtless words.

A mortal who challenges "god".

Just like in that distant plane, before the arrival of the First Age, humanity rose up in rebellion against the Old Gods.

"Did you see it?"

Facing the manuscript, the warden murmured softly, "You said the 'hero' has appeared."

On the fifth level, the loud bang that was so close at hand startled all the jailers. They saw a crack in the high wall that had been sealed off in front of them, but this time, what appeared in front of them was no longer the fourth level, nor the Gluttonous King who was more than five meters tall, but a familiar face.

Holding a sword and shield, he used his body to smash open a passage to the fifth level.

"A hero, he's actually a hero!"

Why would a hero join the rebels!?

Although Solan was no longer backed by those renowned teammates, he was not fighting alone. More and more people emerged from the other side of the rift, dressed in prison uniforms and armed with the jailers' standard firearms, instantly forming a standoff with the jailers.

These are all prisoners from the fourth level.

Their arrival brought the jailers another terrible fact—had the Gluttony King been defeated?
The girl in the crowd confirmed their guess. She shouted, "That fat guy is dead. If you know what's good for you, put down your weapons and surrender!"

Behind the girl was a swaying black shadow that terrified them.

"Demon... Demon King!?"

The hero has actually teamed up with the Demon King!
This was a situation they could never have imagined. An unprecedented sense of oppression spread through the crowd until a sharp shout interrupted their thoughts: "They are nothing but a bunch of traitors! Open fire!"

"boom--!"

The jailers stopped thinking and opened fire at once.

Before the bullets rained down on the crowd, Solan, wielding a sword and shield, stepped forward. He raised his shield high, and the surging battle aura formed a visible barrier in front of the prisoners. His eyes were wide with rage, and his teeth were clenched. Bullets struck the barrier, consuming his already dwindling battle aura. Even so, he did not retreat a single step.

After a salvo, the barrier was riddled with holes.

"Brothers, kill them!"

The prisoners also erupted in a shout.

Faced with bullets at point-blank range, the two sides presented a stark contrast. No one from the guards' defensive line stepped forward. Although the prepared cover blocked most of the bullets, many bullets still penetrated the defensive line and hit the guards behind the cover.

In an instant, flesh and blood flew everywhere, and screams filled the air.

Seeing this, the guards in the front row instinctively retreated. They saw the First Prince and the man in the black cloak beside him. They didn't even glance at the guards who were falling one after another. Instead, they ordered the retreating guards, "Move forward! Anyone who retreats even half a step will be treated as a deserter!"

The man in the black cloak slowly drew a noble rapier, carrying out the prince's orders as the warlord.

This sword will be used to execute cowards who retreat on the battlefield.

"Stay behind me and come with me!"

On the other side was the hero with bloodshot eyes. Those with sharp eyes noticed the wound on Solan's left shoulder that was bleeding profusely. It was a wound he sustained during his battle with the Imperial Army Commander Cedric. Even though he was already teetering on the brink of collapse, the hero did not retreat an inch.

At this moment, the prisoners, led by the hero, displayed tactical coordination far exceeding that of the jailers. They stopped wasting gunpowder and instead used the shields, which could break at any moment, as cover.

Aim, fire, and reload.

More and more prison guards fell in pools of blood, and under such stark contrast, some finally succumbed to the pressure.

"Your Highness, we should retreat to the central area and wait for the Monitor—"

Before he could finish speaking, the black-cloaked man's rapier pierced the chest of the older jailer with his thin sword. His face beneath the black cloak showed no mercy as he said, "This is what happens to deserters."

He issued a command to all the prison guards: "To die for the Empire is your honor!"

The royal honor would not allow them to be defeated by a group of prisoners. "The brave warriors are already at their limit. Those who have wiped out the rebels should be rewarded according to their merits!"

What he was really wary of was the demon king hiding in the crowd. After he shouted, the demon king fell silent.

The Demon King's target is the Prince. She is minimizing her presence and assessing the distance to defeat him in one fell swoop.

Closer, closer.

The man in the black robe and cloak saw the prisoners break through the guards' defenses, draw their swords, and roar as they charged into the crowd. Each of them had bloodshot eyes, as if they wanted to vent their resentment and humiliation as prisoners at this moment.

He also saw the dark shadow disappear underground, silently approaching the back of the line.

Just as the dark figure burst through the ground and reached the prince, the man in the black cloak seized the opportunity and struck the figure's chest with his royal rapier.

However, the battle did not unfold as he had anticipated. The shadowy figure that was hit expanded and exploded like a ruptured balloon, and the violent impact sent him flying several meters. Before he could regain his footing, the shadowy figure that emerged from the ground swung its arm toward his throat.

Fell into a trap!
The Demon King's target was him from the very beginning!

The man in the black cloak tumbled around in a sorry state, but the black shadow that had transformed into a long whip still slashed across his chest, and the tearing pain quickly spread.

His expression was solemn, and the emptiness he exuded left Melia stunned for a long time.

"...Where is your heart?"

She stared in shock at the man in the black cloak. His chest was empty; his heart was missing, which was why he had escaped the severe blow. The man in the black cloak clutched his chest tightly.

He didn't know why the battle had dragged on for so long, yet the Thousand-Faced Witch hadn't appeared yet.

The Thousand-Faced Witch only needed to snap her fingers to wipe out this rebel army composed of prisoners. She had been observing the prisoners' actions all along. With their strength, they had no chance of defeating the Gluttonous King. Something must have happened on the fourth level that they were unaware of.

There must be other enemies hiding elsewhere!
Continuing to fight here would be disadvantageous for them.

Thinking of this, the man in the black cloak said, "Your Highness, let's retreat for now. Let's go to the central courtyard!"

Upon hearing this, the eldest prince's face twisted with anger and humiliation, but facing the approaching rebel army, he still listened to the suggestion of the man in the black cloak.

"Don't think about it!"

Just as Melia was about to give chase, she saw the man in the black cloak flick his left hand. She felt a chill down her spine and dodged to the side. Two prison guards, who had already been shot by muskets and were lifeless, brushed past her. Their dead bodies, with their eyes wide open, suddenly swelled up and then exploded with a deafening roar, spraying blood everywhere.

The corpse explosion destroyed the crumbling barrier and caused Solan to kneel on one knee due to exhaustion.

Before the oncoming shockwave could reach him, the shadowy figure grabbed him around the waist and dragged him to safety.

What kind of trick is that?

Melia glared fiercely at the departing man in the black cloak and the First Prince, then said to Solan, "Remember this, you now owe me a life."

……

"Where is Cedric? Where is the Thousand-Faced Witch? And where is the warden?"

Throughout the journey, the eldest prince clenched his fists so tightly that his teeth were almost grinding to powder.

This should have been a brilliant victory before he ascended the throne, which would have solidified his unshakeable position in the capital. However, things have recently gone wrong, and he has been so badly defeated by a hastily assembled group of prisoners.

"If Cedric were here, he wouldn't be in such a sorry state!"

He naturally blamed Cedric for abandoning his post.

He never expected that a brave man, who was a "pawn" of the royal family, would cause him to lose his composure like this.

"Your Highness, our most urgent task is to find the warden."

The man in the black cloak ignored the Crown Prince's complaints and calmly offered his reminder.

The Demon King, the hero Solan, and the hastily assembled rebel army are not a threat. What they really need to be wary of is the person who killed the Gluttony King and instigated a riot in the fourth level.

He was quite certain that the man hadn't appeared in the rebel ranks, which was perhaps a stroke of luck for them.

This reminded him of the two outsiders whose backgrounds were still unknown.

The Winter Witch, and a young man named Ethan who travels with the witch and seems to have close ties with the Violet Commune.

According to His Highness's plan, the two should have been defeated one by one by the Imperial Guards. Considering their danger, the order for the two was "regardless of life or death" rather than "capture alive".

However, no reports of the two men's whereabouts were heard until they were taken to prison.

Will the Imperial Guard's operation proceed as planned?

Just as the man in the black cloak was deep in thought, a sign in the corridor caught his attention:

"Watch out! There's a vampire ahead!"

This is the path leading to the fifth-level atrium.

That's strange, was there this sign here before?

The man in the black cloak gripped his rapier tightly, for he could smell the stench of blood in the air. He gestured for the eldest prince to stay put, while he himself followed the source of the bloody scent.

A tinkling sound came from the depths of darkness.

"Not this, not this...wait?"

"Are you even capable of doing this?"

The sound of several people talking could be heard from the depths of the darkness.

The man in the black cloak quickly realized that prisoners were escaping. He noticed the body of a guard, fatally wounded in the neck. They lay in front of the cell's iron bars. He almost immediately imagined the scene of the guard's murder—he was attacked as he approached the prisoners in the cell, who bit his neck, damaging his trachea and preventing him from calling for help.

He quickly hid in the shadows, and by the light of the torch, the man in the black cloak saw some familiar faces.

A beautiful vampire, said to be the progenitor of a certain vampire clan.

He was sold for an extremely high price at the black market auction house, and was later trained as a pet by a noble young master. There was also a person with long ears in the prison cell, whom he had seen at the pet party hosted by the Third Princess.

But why are these "pets" in prison?

"Stop arguing!"

The beautiful vampire suddenly spoke up, "I smell something strange."

"What's that strange smell? Is a jailer coming by?"

"No, the smell of the corpse is like it's been dried out for a long time."

The vampire glanced at the spot where the man in the black cloak was hiding.

In an instant, the man in the black cloak understood something.

There's only one reason these "pets" are here—something went wrong at the Simpler family's party that night!
He also attended the banquet and knew that the Third Princess and Fabius were having a party at the villa in the manor. They always brought their favorite pets to the party. Thinking about it carefully, it was from that night that the Third Princess and Fabius started acting strangely, along with all the young nobles who attended the party.

After returning home, their personalities changed to varying degrees.

This must be another trick by a witch.

The man in the black cloak quietly retreated to the Crown Prince's side; the situation was far worse than he had imagined.

The hero Solan led the rebels to break through the defenses of the western prison area, while the prisoners of the fifth level escaped from their cells and are plotting a riot. The Thousand-Faced Witch is also missing. Before long, the fifth level will also fall out of control.

This riot was far more serious, and perhaps the first time the prison had truly fallen out of control.

"Your Highness, the central courtyard is no longer safe."

He brought back the bad news.

His mind raced. "Don't worry, I'll find a way to get you to a safe place."

"before that."

The eldest prince said coldly, "Kill Balmon."

He wanted to do it himself.

Even if he eventually had to leave the prison, he wanted to make sure that all those who came to greet Balmont had failed. He couldn't tolerate anyone rescuing this man with the blood of a sinner right in front of him.

He quickened his pace, his right hand gripping the royal rapier at his waist.

Back in the interrogation room, the eldest prince rushed in impatiently.

"Stop it!"

He gave orders to the doctors surrounding Balmont, instructing them to pierce Balmont's heart with a sword, but then felt that doing so might be too easy for Balmont.

This time, however, the doctors did not obey his orders.

They were still working on their tasks, and everyone looked tense.

"Are you deaf?"

The eldest prince demanded an explanation, and then he noticed the changes in the interrogation room.

Unbeknownst to them, an uninvited guest had appeared in the room. She had medium-length blonde hair and a tuft of hair sticking up on her head.

The old woman was dressed in a maid's uniform, and the wrinkles on her face squeezed her eyes into slits.

She watched the doctors' actions like a supervisor.

"Your Highness, my child is grateful for your care."

Her voice was filled with anger.

The man in the black cloak acted immediately, once again blocking the Crown Prince's path. His slender sword flashed with countless afterimages as it hurtled towards the old man, but he stopped before the sword could touch him.

He saw the transparent container being held and played with by the old man, and the heart inside the container was still beating.

The room fell into a deathly silence, with only the sounds of the doctors breaking the silence.

Before long, footsteps echoed in the corridor, approaching from afar. The footsteps were chaotic and disorderly, indicating that there were many people.

"How did you—"

The black-cloaked man's questioning came to an abrupt halt as the old man's dagger pierced the container and penetrated the still-beating heart. He was startled, clutched his chest, and collapsed to his knees.

When the heart inside the bottle stopped beating, he collapsed to the ground, his eyes losing all light.

The footsteps rushed to the door of the interrogation room. Upon seeing this, the Crown Prince's face finally showed panic. Instead of a jailer, the person who appeared at the door was a hero being supported by Melia.

He was surrounded by people, but this time they were no longer sycophantic nobles, nor were they the people of the empire who were loyal to him. Instead, they were a group of rebels who had taken up arms and started a riot.

The eldest prince drew his sword and retreated to a corner of the interrogation room, waving the blade wildly, looking comical.

He screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

His back pressed firmly against the wall. "I am the prince of the empire, the future king! Who dares to kill me? Who dares to kill me!"

(End of this chapter)