I Reincarnated as the Bastard Prince? Well, At least I'm OP!-Chapter 32: Defeated

Andras was startled to see a strange figure clad in dark, intimidating robes and armour.

This wasn’t a grown man—but a child.

He wore a long, tattered black cloak that swayed gracefully around him like billowing clouds.

The cloak’s hood was pulled deep over his head, hiding his face in complete darkness.

He wore sturdy boots, fingerless gloves, and a belt slung low on his hips, holding a sheath.

But the most striking detail was the weapon at his side—a dragon-hilted dagger.

Despite his age, there’s an aura about him—something that oozed raw power.

"Who the hell are you?" Andras demanded. "You’re not our target."

Archer didn’t say anything. Instead he unsheathed his dagger and stood still, waiting.

The courtyard fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the soft jingle of bells on Andras’ hat as he tilted his head..

"Not one word? Oh, how rude!" Andras muttered. "You crash my party, steal my target, and now you stand there like some edgy little statue."

He paused, his lips curling behind his porcelain mask. "Boys, bring me his head. I’m going to add it to my vast collections."

At his command, the jesters launched forward, their weapons gleaming under the blood-red moon.

The first jester lunged at Archer with twin sickles burning with shadow flames.

Archer met the attack mid-air—his dagger severing both weapons with one strike.

He twisted his body mid-flip, landing behind the cultist, and with a quick slash, cleaved through the back of his mask.

The jester crumpled into dust.

These cultists had demon blood running in their veins which explains why they turn to dust the moment they’re killed. Archer was surprised at this finding.

Demons turn to ashes while the blood Jest cultists turn to dusts.

"Whoops! One down already?" Andras called out comically. "Not bad, little one! But let’s see how you handle all of us."

A cultist swung a spiked chain at Archer, but Archer sidestepped, grabbed the chain mid-air, and yanked the man forward, driving his dagger into his chest.

The man groaned in pains, then dissolved into dust.

Three more cultists raised their hands, summoning magic glyphs.

"Razor Rain!"

"Earth Bind!"

"Soul Rot!"

Hundreds of spectral blades rained down from the sky.

Dark vines surged from the ground, writhing to trap Archer.

Greenish skulls screamed through the air, ready to consume his soul.

Archer speed blitzed the spectral blades and the vines.

With a wave of his hands, he created a magic sigil which deflected ’Soul Rot’ back at the caster.

The jester screamed as his own spell consumed him from the inside out.

Two cultist leapt at Archer with razor sharp glaives, swinging in wide arcs and laced with fire magic.

Archer ducked their strikes and splashed upward in one strike.

The glaives were shattered in pieces.

Without warning, Archer reappeared behind the attackers and with one clean cut, the cultists fell apart in dusts.

Andras clapped slowly as he burst into laughter. "Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous! You’re no ordinary brat, are you? You alone took down some of my best men."

Archer remained silent, flicking dust off his dagger.

The remaining six cultists regrouped and encircled Archer. They moved in sync—blades drawn, chanting as one.

Suddenly, black chains erupted from the earth, wrapping around his wrists and ankles.

Archer didn’t panic. He remained still and waited for their next move.

Andras knew this child was too strong to take on head-on. The fact he was silent was more troubling for him.

"Let’s end this," Andras growled. "Brotherhood of the Blood Jest cult, morph into our powerful form and finish him off."

The remaining cultists brought their bodies together in one big embrace. They began to convulse, their flesh melting away as dark energy consumed them.

Their bodies merged into a horrific abomination—a towering, multi-limbed monster with grinning masks embedded in its flesh.

Andras laughter filled the air. "It’s over for you, child. You have nowhere to escape. Your hands and feet are bound by our chains. You cannot break from it. Prepare to meet your demise."

The monster lunged at Archer, his large mouth stretched to swallow him whole.

Andras was right about one thing, these chains were unbreakable, but they wouldn’t be enough to stop him.

Archer closed his eyes.

Then... he whispered—his first and only words of the night:

"Hellfire Nova Overdrive."

A swirling sphere of black fire erupted from beneath his feet, it’s flames roaring like a thousand dragons screaming.

The flames engulfed the monster, incinerating the jesters to ash in an instant.

Andras staggered back, his jester’s cap singed, mask half-cracked and his robes in tatters.

He was the only one left standing. For the first time, Andras felt fear.

The black chains binding Archer melted away. He walked toward Andras, his dagger gleaming.

Andras clutched his side, grinning through the pain. "W-Wait a minute!" Andras stammered, raising his hands. "You—you’re not just some kid! Who are you?!"

Archer stopped a few feet away. "What does the Blood Jest cult want with Raven?"

Andras staggered back, waving a hand theatrically. "T-The Demon King... sees her as a threat... She must be eliminated—"

Archer’s jaws clenched. "Why?"

"I-I don’t know! I just follow orders!" Andras said hurriedly.

Archer stopped to think. It wasn’t long for him to understand the situation.

The demon King thought Raven was him and attacked her to get rid of the only threat that would ruin his future plans.

Seeing Archer was distracted, Andras activated a portal which tore open behind him.

"Next time... next time, I’ll kill you myself, brat!" Andras yelled, then leapt into the portal just as Archer snapped out of his thoughts.

Silence returned.

Archer stood still, staring at the spot where Andras had been.

If he hadn’t been distracted for a second, he would’ve taken Andras in for more questioning.

He looked up, sighing. At least, Raven was safe—for now.

The blood moon had faded, returning to its natural glowing light.

The chaotic night returned to peace.

* * * *

Dark sigils pulsed along the stone walls of the Blood Jest secret cult’s hideout.

Andras stumbled out of the swirling portal, his breath ragged, his attire torn and singed.

He felt sweat slicking down his face beneath his mask.

His hands trembled—something that had never happened before.

"What’s with that child?" He yelled out I’m frustration. "I’ve faced warriors, mages, even demons—but none had ever made me feel so... afraid." frёewebηovel.cѳm

Before he could gather his thoughts, the heavy doors of the chamber groaned open.

Elysia strode in, her robes flowing behind her like a stream.

"Andras," she sneered, locking eyes with him. "Why are you back so soon? Did you fail?"

Andras whirled on her, his voice a snarl. "Shut your mouth, Elysia! I didn’t fail—"

Elysia’s eyebrow arched. "Really? Then where the hell is Raven’s head? Don’t tell me that little girl actually—"

"Not Raven!" Andras snapped, slamming his fist against the obsidian altar. The sound echoed through the chamber. "Some other child attacked us! A monster in a black cloak!"

Elysia’s smirk faltered. "...What?"

Andras paced around the chamber, his fingers twitching as he recalled the battle

"He cut through my men like they were nothing. Shattered our chains. Incinerated the Brotherhood’s final form into ashes," His voice dropped to a whisper. "I’ve never seen anything like him."

Elysia’s lips thinned. "You’re telling me the great Andras, who boasted he could crush me in a duel, was terrified of a child?"

Andras whirled on her, growling like an angry wolf. "You weren’t there! You didn’t see what he did!"

He paused as he clenched his fists. "Raven isn’t the one we should be hunting. That boy... he’s the real threat."

Elysia’s eyes widened. A cold realization settled over her.

They had been wrong. If what Andras said was true...

"...Then we’ve been chasing the wrong child," she murmured.

Andras let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, now you see it? The Demon King’s gonna love this. I just hope I never run into that child again."

Elysia’s expression darkened. "We can’t start having cold feet now just because some child was strong enough to wipe out your squad."

"What do you suppose we do?" Andras scoffed. "I don’t suppose you expect me to face him again. I can’t imagine myself fighting that child at my level."

Elysia began pacing the chambers, her mind running with ideas. "I’ll have a word with Raul. We will need more time to execute this child. He’s enrolling in this academy, lying low. But I’ll fish him out."

Andras watched her closely. "And how do you plan on defeating him?"

Elysia smirked at him. "Unlike you, Andras, I defeat my opponents with brains not brawns. This child, is obviously no fool. He knows we’re on his trail. He won’t hesitate to fight back. For now, we take our time and wait for the right moment to strike."

Andras sneered at her. "You still haven’t told me how you intend to defeat him."

"Watch it, Andras," Elysia said sharply. "You failed your mission and escaped like a coward. Raul would be disappointed in you. If you have any common sense, you’d humble yourself before me. Do what I say and I might just help you redeem your pride and dignity before Raul."

As much as Andras despises Elysia, he knew he had no other choice but to follow her every words and command.

"Very well, Elysia. I’ll submit myself to you, but only temporary."

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