The Third Prince Of Darkness

(Third-Person POV)

Near a village close to the capital of the Asina Kingdom, Kayle was rhythmically tapping the knife in her hand against the table with her finger. She wasn't even aware of what she was doing—her mind was elsewhere. She was peeking through a small hole in the floor, watching the room below. Following the plan Kayle had devised, Marsiel was waiting down there. Meanwhile, Roxanne, in disguise, was in the secret room directly across.

In short, Kayle's plan was this: Marsiel had sent a letter to his older brother and had briefly spoken with him yesterday. Marsiel told his brother, Markuol, that he wanted to reconcile and had discovered Prince Ethan's weakness. He also assured Markuol that he didn't trust any of the other princes, which is why he asked him to come here alone.

However, there was one critical issue for Kayle: whether Marsiel would betray them. But Marsiel wasn't that foolish—at least, that's what Kayle thought. Even if he did betray them, Kayle had brought the guild members and Roxanne here. There were about 20 of them, and as long as they didn't have to face an army, they could escape without much trouble. After all, Kayle had planned everything meticulously and prepared multiple escape routes.

After waiting a while, Kayle finally heard a sound from outside. The door to the cabin creaked open, accompanied by the sound of footsteps. Kayle shifted her gaze through the small hole and saw that the person they'd been waiting for had arrived. Markuol entered the room, dressed in elegant attire.

The atmosphere in the room grew tense with Markuol's arrival. Kayle, observing the scene intently through the hole, mentally reviewed every possible outcome. Markuol stood directly in front of Marsiel, his expression stern and filled with suspicion, yet his face remained professionally composed.

Marsiel rose to greet his brother, forcing a smile despite his slightly trembling voice.

"Brother, thank you for coming," he said, trying to appear calm.

Marsiel's words hung in the air. Markuol glanced at his brother before letting his eyes wander around the room. His gaze meticulously scanned every corner and detail, his cautious demeanor only heightening the tension.

At that moment, Kayle silently gestured with her hands from above. This was the signal. Roxanne and the guild members sprang into action as if emerging from the shadows.

Roxanne swiftly drew her knives and moved behind Markuol in one fluid motion. She pressed her blade firmly against his throat. Simultaneously, guild members flooded the room from all sides—some leaping through windows, others emerging from hidden passageways. They completely surrounded Markuol.

Marsiel, continuing to play his role, feigned shock.

"Brother, what's happening?" he asked, his voice filled with mock surprise. Markuol didn't seem to notice the insincerity.

Despite immediately recognizing the danger, Markuol maintained his composure and refrained from any sudden moves.

"What is the meaning of this?" he asked calmly, even as Roxanne's blade pressed against his neck.

From her vantage point above, Kayle watched the scene with satisfaction.

"Just as I expected," she thought. She descended into the room via a hidden staircase.

Kayle approached Markuol with a cold expression and spoke.

"Don't worry, Markuol. We're not here to kill you. Not yet."

"E-E-E-" Markuol stammered, unable to speak at the sight of Kayle.

"Shut your mouth, and it'd be best for you to behave on this journey... Surely you've heard the rumors about how much I enjoy tormenting men."

A faint look of unease crossed Markuol's face as he heard Kayle's last sentence. His eyes darted between the soldiers surrounding him and Roxanne's blade still at his neck. Yet, it seemed Kayle's cold words affected him the most.

"Well, if I'm supposed to look intimidating, I think I'm doing my job quite well," Kayle thought, keeping a mocking smile on her face.

The guild members tied up Markuol to ensure he wouldn't escape, then loaded him into a carriage.

"Our business here is done, little mouse. Let's go," Kayle said.

Barely containing herself, Roxanne replied,

"I'm only holding back because you're my darling's sister, but if you keep calling me 'little mouse,' I might lose control."

Kayle stared at Roxanne in surprise before her expression shifted to anger.

"Are you already calling him 'darling'? Damn it, I can't wait to get back to the academy!"

---

(Ethan's POV)

... I think it's been about 20 years... No, maybe 10 or 8. Honestly, I've lost all sense of time and space, so I have no idea how long I've been here. All I know is that it's far longer than I ever imagined, and I've been endlessly fighting Annaxor. Yes, for years, I've been trying to defeat a cursed demon using nothing but my hands and feet. Even now, as I fight Annaxor, my thoughts wander.

At some point, I learned to fight and think about other matters simultaneously. From what I understand, for a soul to become as vulnerable and transparent as Ethan's original soul, all it takes is for the soul to give up the struggle. And for years, neither I nor Annaxor have yielded.

In the realm of souls, there's no need to eat, sleep, or even rest, so we could fight without end. However, there's a stark difference from the real world—the pain intensifies with each passing day. Honestly, I don't even know how I'm still standing despite the agony. The same goes for Annaxor; the prideful gleam in his eyes has long since faded.

Although I'm twice as strong as Annaxor, it took me a long time to gain the upper hand. Still, I think I've held the advantage in this fight for the past few years. Perhaps my combat skills have improved drastically from fighting one of the best fighters in the world. I could see every move Annaxor made, down to the smallest detail, and use his techniques to refine my own.

This relentless battle that spanned years has shaped me. Not just physically, but mentally as well—I've become someone else entirely. Every second spent with Annaxor sharpened my mind and body like a training regimen. But in a way, this struggle also isolated me. Annaxor became my only companion in this endless war. Even his hateful glares eventually felt familiar and mundane.

"You're tired too, aren't you, Annaxor?" I said. For the first time in years, I spoke during the battle. Until now, we'd communicated only through kicks and fists. But now, it felt like the right time to make my voice heard.

Annaxor paused for a moment. The exhaustion in his eyes revealed his weariness from the fight.

"My soul will never yield, human!" he hissed. But his voice no longer carried the confident, disdainful tone it once did. Instead, it was laced with exhaustion.

"I'm not expecting you to yield," I replied. "But perhaps you should accept that this fight needs to end."

Annaxor responded with fury, but his attacks were less effective. His sluggish movements only reinforced my dominance. Now, I could predict every move and evade every strike with ease.

"You know," I said, parrying one of his attacks, "maybe there's a way to end this fight... You won't make it out of here alive, and honestly, I just want to leave as quickly as possible. So why don't I take a piece of your soul and let you live inside me? If there's something you want or need to do, I'll try my best to fulfill it. What do you say? Wouldn't you like to end this meaningless battle?"

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Annaxor remained silent for a while, not responding to my words. The exhaustion in his eyes grew even more apparent. He seemed to take a deep breath, though in the spirit realm, true breathing was impossible. He fixed his gaze on me, the mixture of hatred and weariness in his eyes unmistakable.

"You... want to devour a part of my soul?" he asked in a hissing tone. "If you promise to avenge me, I will accept this," he added, his voice heavy with fatigue.

"If it suits me, I will do it," I replied.

As soon as Annaxor spoke, his soul began to turn translucent. Without hesitation, I rushed forward and started consuming him.

In the spirit realm, as I began to devour Annaxor's soul, an indescribable sensation surged through me. This wasn't just a victory or the conclusion of a struggle for survival. It was the act of absorbing his power, his memories, and a part of his essence into my own being. As fragments of Annaxor's soul flowed into me, waves of his rage, pain, and arrogance struck me. But beneath it all, there was a profound loneliness and regret.

With each bite, his memories streamed into my mind. The pride he felt while ruling demons, the moments he believed himself invincible, and our first encounter where he dismissed me with scorn... Yet, among these haughty recollections were deeper wounds and fears that had shaped him into what he had become. I felt how Annaxor had once fought simply to survive, eventually turning survival into his sole purpose.

As I swallowed the last piece of his soul, Annaxor's voice echoed in my mind. "Human... this is only the beginning. Even if a part of my soul lives within you... you will never fully control me. I will be watching you..." His words carried a mix of threat and defiance, but there was also an undercurrent of acceptance.

For a moment, everything went dark. The spirit realm rippled, then the energy surrounding me intensified, pulling me back into my physical body. As I returned to the real world, an overwhelming warmth coursed through me. The power of Annaxor's soul granted me pulsed in my veins. I could feel my own soul adapting to his, asserting dominance over it. Yet, though this felt like a victory, his presence within me was a constant reminder. The echoes of Annaxor inside me whispered that I would never forget this battle.