I'm Trapped Inside a Prince as the Most Powerful Entity-Chapter 87: Alina speaks

Adam’s free hand met the Emperor’s powerful punch. As soon as it connected, Adam felt an immense force surge through Eric’s arm. It was much stronger than he had expected from a normal human. He felt the bones in the hand and the lower arm break.

They splintered into many small pieces. The muscles tore. The flesh ripped apart because of the pure power of the Emperor’s hit.

A sudden, sharp pain, a feeling Adam knew well from many other times he had been in other bodies, tried to take over his control.

However, Adam was not someone who would be stopped by just physical pain or damage.

Instantly, a wave of his own special energy flooded into the broken arm. The shattered bones started to mend back together very quickly, much faster than normal.

The torn muscle fibers rewove themselves. The damaged flesh started to heal. Within just a few seconds, the arm was almost as good as new, though it had taken a lot of Adam’s energy.

This ’Emperor’ is not just a king with a fancy title, Adam thought to himself. He was thinking clearly, even as his arm was healing.

If I had used even a little bit less of my own energy to block that punch, this arm would have been completely destroyed. It would have turned into nothing but dust.

Outwardly, Adam kept a look of confidence on his face, as if he was not bothered at all.

But inside, he knew how much energy that quick healing had cost him. The more of Eric’s hidden energy he used up, the less time he would have to stay in control of Eric’s body.

As if to prove his thoughts were right, the [System Window: Millennia] suddenly appeared in his mind. He could see it clearly, even though no one else could. Its usually calm blue light was now pulsing, as if it was urgent.

Text appeared on the screen: "[Warning: Remaining control time:2 minute 30 seconds.]"

A strong feeling of frustration, like a sharp pain, went through Adam.

Two Minute Thirty seconds! He had only just settled into Eric’s body. He had barely started to enjoy the idea of teaching these proud and arrogant people a lesson.

And already, his time was running out. It was a problem he had faced many times before, and it always made him angry.

Emperor Sir David, meanwhile, was clearly surprised. He had lived for a very long time. No one, in many hundreds of years, had ever dared to make fun of his age.

And certainly, no one had ever done it to his face, especially not right after taking one of his direct, powerful punches.

A strange look crossed the Emperor’s eyes for a moment. It was hard to read. It was surprise.

It was something else, something like respect, or even fear. He slowly pulled back his fist.

Adam was still holding it in a surprisingly strong grip, even though Eric’s arm had been almost destroyed just moments before.

"I need to speak with you," the Emperor said. His voice was different now. It had lost its earlier loud, angry sound. Now, it was serious, and it sounded like he was thinking very carefully. "Alone."

When the Emperor said this, more waves of shock went through the council chamber. The golden-armored soldiers, who were slowly and painfully trying to get up from where Adam’s black energy sphere had thrown them, looked at their ruler with disbelief.

Their faces were covered in blood, and their shiny armor was dented and broken.

"Lord Emperor!" one of the soldiers managed to gasp out, his voice weak. "This... this thing... this boy... he is very dangerous! You cannot be alone with him!"

The Emperor’s look, sharp and full of command, swept over his injured soldiers.

"This is my order," he stated. His voice was quiet but firm, and it left no room for any argument.

The soldiers, even though they were hurt and very concerned for their Emperor, fell silent. They were well-trained. Their discipline took over, even when they were in pain.

All the assembled kings and rulers, who had been frozen in place by a mix of fear and wonder at what they had just seen, now turned all their attention to the Emperor.

Their faces showed a mix of confusion and great worry. What was the Emperor planning to do?

The Emperor spoke again. His voice was strong and full of authority.

"Escort King Noor out of this council chamber. Treat him with the respect that a king deserves. Have him wait somewhere safe. I am, for now, taking back my previous judgment against him and his son." His gaze then fixed hard on Adam, who was still standing in Eric’s body. "I need to speak with this boy. Alone."

The Emperor’s words stunned everyone present into a new silence. It was even deeper than before. The King of Roland, King James, looked especially shocked and angry.

The happy, winning smirk that had been on his face earlier had completely vanished. Now, he looked confused and very upset. His perfect plan was falling apart. King Noor himself was just as surprised.

He stared at the being that was now using his son’s body. He looked at the icy white eyes with their tiny black pupils. He felt the sheer, overwhelming power that was coming from it.

A sure feeling, a certainty, settled in King Noor’s heart: whatever this thing was, it was most definitely not his son, Eric. The change was too complete.

The way it acted, the way it looked, was too strange, too alien. This was something else entirely.

Adam, who was very aware of the [System Window’s] Two minute thirty-second clock ticking down in his mind, quickly saw the chance that the Emperor’s unexpected order had given him.

He needed more time, and perhaps talking was a way to get it, or at least to understand what this Emperor wanted.

With a slow, careful, almost showy movement, he put the sword that had so recently killed Captain Thomas back into its sheath at Eric’s side.

The sound of the sword sliding home was a clear, unspoken signal. It meant he was willing to listen, at least for now.

A very faint, almost invisible smile touched the Emperor’s lips as he watched Adam put the sword away. He then turned to his injured soldiers and the remaining frightened kings. "Hurry now," he commanded. "Clear this chamber. Leave us."

The Emperor’s command made everyone move. Soldiers, some of them still holding their injuries, began to guide the confused and scared kings out of the large council room.

The air was thick with questions that no one dared to ask out loud, and a strong feeling of dread still lingered. People were afraid of what might happen next.

King Noor remained standing where he was for a moment longer. His eyes were still fixed on the strange being that wore his son Eric’s face. He felt a gentle hand on his arm. He looked down. It was Alina. She was standing beside him.

"Don’t worry, My Lord," she said softly. Her voice was trembling a little, but it was also firm. "He... is... that is Adam. He is helping Eric. He is helping us."

King Noor turned to look at her. His face was a mask of confusion and a growing sense of horror. "Alina," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "who...what this... this Adam is?"

Alina met his gaze. Her own eyes were serious. "I will explain everything I know when we are outside, My Lord," she said. "For now, we must trust Adam. Let him deal with this situation with the Emperor."

Adam? The name meant nothing to King Noor. He had never heard it before. Yet, somehow, hearing Alina say it seemed to explain everything and nothing at the same time. He felt lost. He allowed Alina to gently guide him.

He turned and followed the last of the soldiers and the other kings out of the grand council chamber, leaving the powerful being and the Emperor alone.

Soon, the vast room was empty. Only two figures remained. Adam, in Eric’s young form, stood still, but he felt like a dangerous animal, coiled and ready to spring.

Opposite him, Emperor Sir David looked at him with an intensity that felt like it could melt steel. The Emperor’s gaze carried the weight of an entire empire.