The Useless Prince Is A Gangster
Chapter 68. Rescue Team

Chapter 68: 68. Rescue Team

Rin slumped against a scorched, twisted tree, her violet hair sticky with blood and ash, her body covered in bruises, cuts, and burns. Her torn robes hung in shreds, her broken staff in pieces at her feet.

She’d fought with everything, all her strength—to stop the shadow Valtharion. Her fight let all the students escape, but left her empty, no mana, no energy.

Her pink, bloodshot eyes shimmered with exhaustion as she slid down the tree, barely awake.

Shadow Valtharion loomed, its greatsword lifted, ready to cut her down. Rin’s lips trembled, forming a small, defiant smile. "I kept my promise, Leonhardt... don’t break yours," she whispered, voice soft as a breeze.

She closed her eyes, ready for the end, her heart calm.

Then shadow Valtharion froze, its blade stopping mid-air. Its body quivered, then broke apart into swirling black fog, gone. Rin’s eyes flew open, a gasp escaping her cracked lips. A weak, happy laugh spilled out, her voice shaky but full of relief.

"You did it, you crazy idiot," she whispered, tears mixing with blood on her face. Her strength vanished, and she fell sideways, unconscious, curling against the tree, a faint smile on her lips, the forest quiet around her.

In the Dominion of Pride

Valtharion’s hand rested on Reo’s head, warm despite his fading life. "You fought like a storm, child," he said, purple eyes locked on Reo’s, a spark of respect shining through. "You burned through my Pride, a feat few have dreamed."

Reo chuckled, pain stabbing him, blood dripping from his mouth, his torn chest heaving. "Storm? Just desperate to kill you," he rasped, a weak grin on his face. "Used many cheats.....if it’s a fair fight, I’d be done."

Valtharion’s laugh was soft, almost kind, black blood staining his teeth. "Pride bows to no one... yet you made it kneel." His eyes warmed, a rare softness in the demon’s gaze. "State your name."

Reo’s grin faded, his tired eyes honest. "Didn’t I say it already? Leonhardt Caulem, heir of House Caulem," he muttered.

Valtharion smirked, seeing through it. "I’m not human, child. Your true name."

"Reo... Reo Carter," he said, crimson eyes meeting Valtharion, showing his true self.

The demon nodded, his smile tired but true. "An honor, Reo Carter, to fight you."

He leaned closer, voice heavy, like he was sharing a secret. "It’s now confirmed that you are worthy of Ruler’s Prophecy, it’s tied to demons also. You’ll change everything in this world—fate, power, all of it. But every step will be a fight, every choice dangerous."

"The Prophecy is not victory—it is a war to redefine what victory means."

A dark, shadowy power flowed from Valtharion’s hand into Reo, a cold, electric jolt that burned through him, his heart racing, his skin tingling.

Valtharion pulled hand back, his hand shaking, life slipping away. "This... will help you at least. Take care of those three for me."

Reo frowned, pain clouding his head. "Three?" he mumbled, but nodded weakly. "Sure."

Valtharion’s gaze softened, his voice a fading whisper, heavy with a longing that mirrored Reo’s own. "Find her... the one who drives your heart. Hold her close, Reo Carter. Life is too fleeting, even for demons." His eyes glistened, a hint of regret, a warrior who’d fought alone too long, now seeing a kindred soul.

Reo’s throat tightened, his bloody fingers touching the ring. "Thanks, Commander Valtharion," he rasped, a small, real grin breaking through. "Was a wild fight."

Valtharion swayed, his strength gone. He fell back, hitting the ground with a heavy thud, black blood spreading. His red hair fanned out, his face calm, a warrior at peace.

The Dominion of Pride shattered in a flash of violet light, the glade snapping back—a burned, broken clearing, ground torn and bloody. Reo lay sprawled, his body wrecked, blood soaking the dirt, his mind fading.

Valtharion’s still body lay nearby.

Then.

The earth trembled hard, dirt cracking as loud roars filled the air.

Monsters approaching from the dark trees, their black-and-white vision locked on Reo. Big minotaurs, snorted steam, holding huge axes and behind it was an large dire wolf.

Damn it, he thought, staring at a minotaur stomping close, its axe raised to smash him.

The minotaur froze, its roar cut off. It crashed beside Reo, a glowing axe stuck in its back, light bursting from the wound, blood spraying. " Sorry for being late, kid!" Gidon shouted as he approaching, pulling his axe free, blood dripping.

He looked at Reo, worry in his eyes, then swung again, splitting a dire wolf’s head before it could jump.

Soft hands lifted Reo’s head, resting it on something warm. Professor Isolde’s face appeared, her blue hair shining a little, her smile kind but scared. She sat in the ground, holding his head in her lap, her touch gentle.

"You did amazing, Leonhardt," she said softly, her voice calming his pain. "Rest now."

Reo’s eyes closed, pain swallowing him, his body giving up.

[ALERT!]

[ENERGY OVERUSED!].

[BODY SHUTTING DOWN.]

Everything went dark, Isolde’s warmth the last thing he felt.

Isolde looked at Valtharion’s body, just two feet away, his bloody face giving her chills. Even dead, Valtharion felt scary, his broken armor like it could move again.

A loud roar turned her head up—a huge orc, charged from the trees, its club swinging.

Before it could approach them, glowing arrows flew in from the sky, each one exploding into big fireballs, blasting the orc to bits in a loud boom.

Professor Vaelem walked up, his staff glowing, glasses flashing as he stared at Valtharion’s body. "How’d this kid manage to kill that?" he said, voice shocked.

Gidon, blood on his face, pulled his axe from another minotaur. "This kid never fails to impress," he said, looking at the demon’s corpse. "That’s no normal demon—way too strong."

Isolde held Reo tighter, her eyes on his broken body—torn skin, smashed bones, blood everywhere. She felt his weak pulse, fading fast. "We felt its power outside the dome," she said, voice low, her hand brushing Reo’s hair.

Vaelem pushed his glasses up, eyes locked on Reo. "What is he?" he asked, gripping his staff hard. "No kid does this."

Isolde’s voice got fierce. "We’ll figure it out later. He needs to get out of this damn place now."

"Can’t you heal him?" Gidon asked Vaelem, worried.

Vaelem shook his head, eyes dark. "Not here. His wounds are too bad—needs big healing, fast."

Isolode turned to the glassed professor, voice urgent. "How long will it take to break this dome?"

Glassed professor stayed calm, but his hand tightened on his staff. "Advance team’s should reach the caster by now. If they succeed, the dome’s down soon."