The Useless Prince Is A Gangster
Chapter 63. Lucian vs Valtharion

Chapter 63: 63. Lucian vs Valtharion

Lucian’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and urgent. "Spread out! Run! Now!" The students behind him froze, confusion on their faces, but his roar snapped them into action. "Move!" They scattered into the forest, footsteps fading as they fled.

Lucian’s green eyes locked onto the towering warrior before him, his soul resonance weapon pulsing red in his grip. "Are you the one who did this?" he bellowed, rage dripping from every word.

The warrior tilted his dragon-helm, purple eyes gleaming. "Zahr’val tu’kren?" he intoned, voice deep and guttural, like stones grinding.

(Are you the Ruler’s prophecy?)

Lucian’s face twisted in frustration. "What the hell are those words?"

"In’therak vel dromuul. Sa’ek ven’korath," he replied, his tone unchanging, alien.

(The fire in you burns bright. Let’s fight)

Lucian didn’t wait for more nonsense. Fire mana surged into his sword, the blade erupting in white-hot flames.

He ran, boots digging into the dirt, and swung—a fiery slash aimed at Valtharion’s chest. The demon blocked with a quick flick of his greatsword, red and blue sparks flying, the hit knocking Lucian back hard, his arms hurting, bones groaning.

"Damn fast," Lucian spat, blood on his lip, grinning like a wild dog. He channeled more mana in, flames wrapping him like a snake, and charged again. He faked left, spun right, and hacked at Valtharion’s side with a blazing sword.

The demon’s blade stopped it, the clash making a fireball that burned the ground. Valtharion didn’t move, his purple eyes cold.

The demon swung his weapon, his greatsword slicing in a brutal arc. Lucian dove, the blade scraping his head, chopping a tree behind him to pieces.

Lucian rolled, thrusting his sword up, flames shooting at Valtharion’s face. The demon dodged—way too quick for his size—and smashed his metal fist down.

Lucian rolled away, but the ground blew up, sharp rocks cutting his arm, blood splashing.

"You should hit faster, asshole!" Lucian yelled, stumbling up, blood in his eyes. He raised his sword, fire mana growing, and let loose a huge wave of flames—bright enough to light the glade like a firepit.

Valtharion raised a hand, shadows spilling from his armor, eating the fire like a black hole.

His cape whipped, and three shadow wraiths crawled out—creepy things with purple eyes and sharp claws, screaming like ghosts.

"Shit!" Lucian growled, holding his sword tighter, blood making it slippery. The wraiths jumped him, claws swinging. He slashed, flames cutting one to ash, its scream fading.

Another tore his chest, ripping his shirt, claws digging deep, blood pouring. Lucian yelled, spinning to chop the second wraith, fire bursting as it broke apart. The third leaped, but he stabbed upward, blasting a firestorm that burned it to nothing mid-air.

Valtharion didn’t wait. He rushed, greatsword slashing down hard. Lucian blocked, but the hit broke his stance, dropping him to his knees, his sword shaking, flames fading under the demon’s power.

"It’s hurting!" he gasped, blood in his mouth. He pushed back with a fire burst, breaking free, but Valtharion’s boot slammed his chest, cracking ribs, sending him sliding through the dirt.

"Fuckkkk!" Lucian shouted, clawing up, one arm useless, blood gushing from his chest. Valtharion kept coming, greatsword up. Lucian poured all his mana into his sword, flames going white, and ran at him.

"Burn you, motherfucker!" he screamed, swinging wildly—fast slashes like fireballs, aiming at Valtharion’s legs, arms, and chest.

The warrior blocked most, his sword a blur, but one hit burned his shoulder armor. Valtharion growled, loud and angry.

The demon stomped, shadows exploding into sharp tendrils from the ground. Lucian dodged one, cut another, but a third stabbed his thigh, blood spraying as it pulled him down.

Valtharion swung, and Lucian raised his sword, the hit smashing his blade’s guard, throwing him through a tree, wood breaking, his body hitting the ground hard. He coughed blood, ribs snapped, and a leg was torn, but he held his sword, flames weak.

"Get up... move!" Lucian growled, dragging himself up, vision blurry, blood everywhere. Valtharion loomed, greatsword ready to end him.

But Lucian didn’t give up, roared, using his last bit of fire mana, his sword glowing like a star. He threw himself at the demon, flames trailing like a shooting star, aiming for Valtharion’s heart.

Their swords hit, fire and shadow blowing up, wrecking the glade, and ground trembling. Lucian gave everything, flames burning Valtharion’s armor, but the demon was too strong. Valtharion twisted his greatsword, ripping Lucian’s blade away.

Lucian fell, defenseless, blood pouring from his mouth and chest.

Valtharion’s sword rose, runes bright. Lucian grinned, spitting blood, grey eyes wild. "Not... done," he gasped, diving for his sword. He grabbed it, rolling as Valtharion’s blade slammed down, cutting a ditch by his head. Lucian stood, leg giving out, sword barely lit. He swung a weak, fiery slash at Valtharion’s chest.

The demon grabbed the blade with his metal hand, flames scorching him, and crushed it—metal breaking, shards cutting Lucian’s hands to ribbons.

Valtharion’s fist smashed Lucian’s chest, bones crunching, throwing him across the glade. He crashed through roots and rocks, sliding in a bloody streak, his body a broken mess.

Valtharion waved his hand, and two shadow creatures rose from the ground. Their glowing purple eyes locked on Lucian, approached him and grabbed his bloody arms and dragged him across the wrecked glade.

They forced him to kneel before the dark warrior, then vanished into smoke.

Lucian, barely awake, glared up at Valtharion with the little strength he had left.

"Yal’nokh shara ven khal," Valtharion said, his voice deep and strange, his dragon-helm’s eyes burning.

(Fall, and be remembered in death.)

Lucian let out a weak laugh, blood dripping from his mouth. He’d lost. He’d fought with everything—his mana, his strength—but it wasn’t enough. He wasn’t scared to die, but failing hurt worse. He hadn’t saved everyone.

He hadn’t found Velmira. He hadn’t even spent proper time with his elder brother. It was all done now, his life about to end now.

Valtharion lifted his huge sword, ready to end it. Lucian closed his eyes, waiting for the strike.

Suddenly, a burst of energy cracked the air. Valtharion jumped back just as something, buzzing with lightning, slammed into the ground where he’d been standing. Sparks flew from the blade, stuck in the dirt.

It’s Katana, still buzzing with lightning.

Valtharion’s eyes looked back to see a group of students standing at a distance, some of them students that Lucian protected, looking scared and worried.

He knew they didn’t throw it and immediately spun back toward Lucian, but someone else was there—a guy standing over him. Lucian looked up, vision blurry, and his heart skipped. It was his brother.

Leo smiled, warm but with a hint of concern. "Hey, little brother," he said softly.

Lucian’s face lit up, a weak smile breaking through. Tears mixed with blood as he whispered, "Big.... brother."