The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic-Chapter 493

Kael's eyes narrowed as he took a deep breath and pulled back, creating distance after the first clash.

It would be wrong to say that he was not wary.

But his caution was not because of Ryan himself. It was because of the beast. The Serpentine bloodline was never just about the man.

The paired beast was the true danger. If Ryan still had access to it, then things could turn troublesome. Kael did not yet know whether this man still possessed that power.

"Hey."

Ryan's expression changed when he saw Kael smile.

"Why don't you bring out that pet snake of yours?" Kael said casually.

"Oh," he added, tilting his head slightly, "is it because you don't have it anymore and ended up a failure?"

Thick veins bulged on Ryan's forehead. Rage flashed across his face as he slammed his foot into the ground and propelled himself forward.

"How dare you!" he roared at the top of his lungs.

There was one thing that irked Ryan the most, and it was being mocked. Especially when it came to his lineage and power.

He shot toward Kael, his sword raised high. A dense mass of destructive energy engulfed the blade, making the air around it distort. He brought it down with full force, aiming to cut everything apart.

BOOOOOOM!

The moment his sword struck Kael's, a violent purging force rattled through his right arm. The backlash was so strong that his blade was knocked aside, leaving him momentarily bewildered.

His eyes widened in shock.

Seeing the opening, Kael thrust his sword forward. Ryan barely managed to raise his left arm guard in time, blocking the strike with brute force, but the impact still injured him. Blood splashed as the force tore through his defenses.

Ryan twisted his body, using the momentum from the deflection to spin and counterattack. His blade swept sideways, aiming for Kael's torso.

But Kael had already moved.

CLANG!

Blade crashed against blade again.

The two closed in, fighting at close range. Their swords collided repeatedly, causing sparks to fly with each strike. Each clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, pounding against the surrounding structures.

BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!

Thunderous explosions erupted as their swordsmanship collided again and again. The entire surrounding area became blurred and distorted, as if the space itself was being torn apart by their battle. Cracks spread across the ground, and debris was flung into the air.

Dark mages nearby were forced to retreat, staggering backward under the pressure of the battle. Some raised barriers, while others simply fled.

Ryan cursed through clenched teeth.

"Damn it, you brat," he growled. "What the hell did you eat to grow up like this?"

"Evil people's hearts," Kael replied with a smile. "I devoured them."

As he spoke, Kael twisted his sword to deflect Ryan's next blow. He stepped forward sharply and slammed his foot into Ryan's knee.

The impact was clean and brutal.

Ryan's balance broke, and his body faltered for a brief moment.

That moment was enough.

Kael's eyes gleamed. His grip tightened, and he raised his sword high.

Now was his chance.

He brought the blade down with overwhelming force.

BOOOOOM!

The ground cracked and shattered as the sword struck, sending shockwaves outward. Stone split apart, and dust exploded into the air.

But instead of satisfaction, Kael screamed.

"What the fuck!"

Ryan was gone.

Kael's head snapped up instantly. His eyes caught sight of Ryan being violently pulled backward. A pair of blackish, writhing tentacles had wrapped around Ryan's body, dragging him away toward the core zone where Randulo stood.

Ryan's body scraped across the ground as he was hauled back.

"Tha—" His expression suddenly changed as something strange overtook him. His eyes widened in terror, and his face twisted in agony.

"You… wait… ARGHHHHHHH!"

"KHARKRKRKRKRK!"

His words dissolved into painful, bitter screams that echoed throughout the entire space. The sound was horrifying, filled with despair and agony, and it shook everyone present to their core.

Kael froze for a split second.

That brief moment of hesitation proved dangerous.

In that instant, countless attacks poured toward him from all directions. Dark spells, cursed projectiles, and twisted energy waves surged forward like a flood.

"Just what the hell is going on?" Kael roared.

He swung his sword with all his might.

A massive crimson wave erupted from the blade, drawing a blazing line across the plain. Everything in its path was cut apart as the attack surged straight toward Randulo's position.

But the strike did not reach its target.

A barrier shimmered into existence, stopping the attack cold. The crimson wave dispersed against it, unable to break through.

The path ahead was briefly cleared.

Without wasting another second, Kael jumped forward, charging straight into the opening.

But the moment he landed, countless dark mages appeared from the shadows. They surrounded him from all sides, their eyes glowing with madness as they began chanting in unison.

The air thickened once more, filled with suffocating darkness.

Kael tightened his grip on his sword, his expression cold and sharp as he prepared to cut his way through again.

Kael stared at the countless dark mages standing before him.

Unlike before, their expressions were firm and resolute. There was no hesitation in their eyes. They were absolutely certain about one thing. They would stop him from reaching the ritual zone, no matter the cost.

"I am warning you," Kael said calmly. "If you want to live, then just escape."

His voice was steady, and there was no mockery in it.

"I am being completely serious now."

For a brief moment, a rare trace of solemnity flickered in his eyes. It sent a chill down the spines of those watching him. The air around him felt heavier, as if something terrible was about to happen.

But these were not ordinary enemies.

"Hahaha, it's fine if we die!" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

One of the dark mages laughed loudly.

"Sacrificing our lives for the descent of the Great God!"

"What more could we possibly want?"

"Yes," another shouted. "Do not threaten us."

"If you want to fight, then fight. Threatening us will not lead you anywhere, kid."

Kael let out a slow breath and tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword.

Then, unexpectedly, a low chuckle escaped his lips.

"Haaa… who am I kidding?"

"Kekekekeke."

ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!

Crimson lightning suddenly flickered around his body.

The lightning moved like living snakes, crawling across his arms and shoulders before slamming into the ground. Each strike cracked the stone beneath his feet, spreading jagged fractures outward.

The mana inside Kael churned violently and burst forth, forming a dense aura that wrapped around him like a cloak. His body glowed with a crimson tint, and his face took on a blood-red hue that made him look almost inhuman.

"Then let's have some fun."

He took a single step forward.