Spiral of Madness: Ascension of the Villainous Dragon Prince-Chapter 86: The Mission Begins - The Shackled Saint’s Power [2]

Chapter 86: The Mission Begins - The Shackled Saint’s Power [2]

"I don’t mean to argue, but will this really work?" Louis asked. "That man is unstable. From the records, he’s killed over two hundred people! What was my father thinking sending him here? I’ll have to ask him later..."

"Gustaf doesn’t judge by past or background," Althea replied. "My sister and I being here proves that. Even his younger brother, Agent Radiohead—an Entity himself—was accepted into the VPI."

"Haha... well, my brother has a kind heart despite appearances," Eduard said. "And I believe Elias cannot be killed..."

"...?" Louis raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean he cannot be killed?"

"Queen Benladra sentenced him to death two decades ago after capturing him," Stella explained, shaking her head. "But no matter what they tried... Elias would not die."

"...He’s immortal?!" Louis asked, stunned by the revelation and finally understanding his father’s intent. "I see. Father sent me an indestructible meat shield."

Overhearing from afar, Elias grinned at Louis. "Heh~ Like father, like son, huh?"

Agent Stone regarded Elias warily. "I wouldn’t call him immortal. He can die now that he’s restrained. Those shackles aren’t mere technology—they were forged in Yggdrasil’s Divine Forge by the Onyx Hammer Venerable, God of all Dwarves. Elias is, quite literally, a weapon worth every effort."

"So despite everything he’s done..." Louis sighed bitterly. "I suppose Father’s right. We might as well use this monster for the country’s benefit. But how long can we contain him?"

"Don’t worry, Prince. I’ve changed. I’m a new man," Elias assured lightly. "I swear never to betray you!"

Louis didn’t believe a word, but he played along for now. "Is everything ready?"

"Wait! Please take us with you."

Anastasia hurried back to Louis, Mirai at her side. Zorba had stood silently nearby, listening while narrowing his eyes at Elias. Juliette and Catrise prepared equipment while monitoring the Fantasy Field.

"Have you decided to join?" Louis asked.

"Yes. I’m sorry for hesitating earlier," Anastasia said firmly. "I swore to walk this thorny path beside you... to inherit my mother’s legacy and one day wield Niflheim. My mother faced far worse. Acting cowardly would only dishonor her memory."

"Your mother’s legacy?" Althea asked. "Ah... you must be Tisha’s daughter. I’m so sorry. She was our strongest fighter... We all miss her dearly."

"Indeed," Stella sighed. "But this isn’t the time to mourn. Anastasia, you’ve inherited both parents’ gifts. Can you do more than wield the sword?"

"Yes," Anastasia replied. "I was taught Druid Magic..."

"Yggdrasil’s magic complements Spiritias’ well," Althea said with a gentle smile. "Perhaps we can combine efforts to expand my Spiritual Domain. This Fantasy Field resonates strongly with me. My power is sealed externally, but within, my Spiritual Soul remains potent. Your help would be invaluable."

"I..." Anastasia realized she had overfocused on the blade, neglecting her other mother’s legacy—Druidic Magic, the communion between mortal and nature. "I will help."

"Then it’s settled," Eduard declared. "Anastasia, support Althea. Catrise and Juliette, protect them. Mirai, Louis, Stone, Stella—you charge ahead. Zorba, stay with me. We’ll provide support from behind. Understood?"

"Yes," Zorba nodded with a smile. "It will be a pleasure working with the legendary Radiohead."

"Haha, you know about me? I’m flattered!" Radiohead laughed.

"Yes. Back in the Vultarn High Dominion, I heard how you massacred terrorists targeting the capital," Zorba replied. "Many similar tales followed. You’re someone to both fear and admire."

"...Uh, well, I’m not proud of that, but... okay," Eduard muttered awkwardly. "Goddamn it, is that why I’m famous? Then I don’t want it..." he grumbled pointlessly.

"Anyway, shall we begin, Radiohead?" asked Agent Stone, ready for anything. He carried his giant mechanical hammer, with two missile launchers attached to the massive mechanical armor wrapped around his body, which bore the faint shape of a rhino.

"More than ready," Althea replied quickly. She activated her mechanical suit, covered in wooden armor merged with mechanical parts forged from Spiritual Artifacts. Her Spirit Drones floated around her, unleashing their Spiritual Auras, prepared to assist.

"I suppose things have changed slightly, but we’ve dealt with worse," Stella said with a confident smile. Her mechanical armor resembled a flowing white dress, vastly enhancing her magical offensive abilities. A pair of bat-like wings made of red light manifested from her back, along with a bleeding red halo above her head.

"Soooo... is it time already?" Elias asked. "Is it finally... show time?"

Stone and Eduard exchanged a glance and nodded, allowing the wild man to step forward. Zorba’s zombies and skeletons, along with Eduard’s mechanical entities born from his own body, advanced as well, standing shoulder to shoulder with the eager Elias, who could barely contain his excitement.

"It’s time, is it? Finally... All right, everyone, let’s do a good job today too~" he said, speaking to what seemed like empty air.

But everyone knew he addressed the "voices" inside him—not the same as Louis’s affliction, but actual personalities within his fractured mind.

And they answered.

"Finally. I was getting worried."

"When can we unleash judgment upon the wicked again?"

"I was growing bored. When does it begin, Elias?"

"Yes, release me."

Among the voices, one incredibly deep and alien tone emerged—both Elias and not Elias. The other personalities vanished instantly, consumed.

"Time... to judge the wicked..."

The Shackled Saint smiled and charged toward the gate. The faster he ran, the more his Aura transformed, distorting into a massive surge of pure white light...

Which then shifted into utter darkness.

Light and dark overlapped, forming a beautiful eclipse that spread around Elias like a Domain of its own.

The Gardener of the Emerald Moon gazed at the human with disinterest—until Elias reached the gate.

"KNOCK... KNOCK!!!" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He swung his handcuffed arms forward. Fantasium exploded from every fiber of his muscles.

BOOOMMM!!!

The gate—reinforced with Spiritual Runes and the Fantasium of the Fantasy Field—shattered into countless pieces. The attack did not stop there. A devastating wave of eclipsing energy surged, razing through the city, disintegrating dozens of buildings, and blasting open the far walls.

"Heh... HEHEH... It’s starting... HE’S... HE’S HERE!!!"

Elias laughed maniacally. His face distorted, skin turning pitch black. Dark blue horns sprouted from his forehead, eyes blazing red. His once serene features twisted into those of an eternally wrathful demon king.

"JUDGMENT! IMPART JUDGMENT! JUDGMENT! JUDGMENT! JUDGMENT!!!"

And his rampage began.

RUMBLE!

The demon charged, kicking away a massive army of Entities rushing toward him. Not dozens or hundreds, but thousands of monstrous masses of vines, roses, and eyes. He tore them apart, exploding them into pieces. Their golden blood, which should have burned him, only scorched his clothes. His obsidian skin remained completely invulnerable.

Louis had expected chaos, but not this level of destruction—especially while Elias was still handcuffed. He could barely imagine the power without those restraints designed to contain his explosive strength.