Villain MMORPG: Almighty Devil Emperor and His Seven Demonic Wives-Chapter 1218: The Prince’s Tale [Part 2]

Villain Ch 1218. The Prince's Tale [Part 2]

The night was calm, deceptively so. We were far from land, the horizon endless in every direction. Suddenly, the ship groaned violently beneath our feet, the sound of splintering wood filling the air. I barely had time to shout a warning before it began. Stone columns erupted from the sea, smashing through the hull with terrifying force. Boulders rained down from above, as if the ocean itself had turned against us.

Panic overtook the crew. Soldiers ran in every direction, their shouts drowned out by the deafening crashes. My heart raced as I looked out over the water, my mind torn between fear and hope.

Could it be her?

Was she protecting herself, lashing out at those who had come to harm her?

I clung to the possibility. I thought—no, I hoped—that it was her.

But I was wrong.

It wasn't her.

-----

Allen's voice faltered slightly as the writing changed. The next portion of the letter was written in a shakier hand, the words hurried and uneven. He swallowed hard and continued.

-----

It wasn't her!

It was a monster!

A true beast!

The creature tore through us with ease. It shattered the ship like it was paper, sending men and debris into the churning waves. The general tried to rally the soldiers, but it was futile. The creature was too powerful, too fast.

And then it came for me.

I fought—I tried to fight—but it was useless. Its claws wrapped around me, dragging me from the wreckage. I could hear its voice, its guttural growl echoing in my mind. I don't know how long it dragged me, but when I woke, I was here.

Imprisoned. Inside this bottle.

It stares at me, its bulbous eyes unblinking. Its voice… It speaks of marriage. It calls me 'prince' like it's some cruel joke. It says I will rule beside it, that it will make me beautiful, like it is. But I know the truth. It is not beautiful. It is not her. It is hideous, and I can't escape it.

Please. Please, whoever finds this, I beg you—don't let it take me. Don't let it win. Save me from this nightmare.

-----

The letter ended abruptly, the last few words trailing off into a smear of ink.

Allen lowered the letter, his expression grim as he let the words settle over the group. For a long moment, no one spoke. The only sound was the faint crackling of distant currents and the soft hum of the ruins around them.

"Well…" Vivian finally said, her voice breaking the silence. "That explains the bottle."

The group stood in uneasy silence around the shattered remnants of the prince's watery prison.

Jane crouched next to the dead prince, her sharp eyes softening as she studied his lifeless form. "What a tragic love story," she murmured, her voice tinged with genuine sorrow. "What a poor guy."

Shea tried to lighten the mood. "At least it's not a tragic story for Zoe."

But Zoe didn't look comforted. Instead, her frown deepened as she crossed her arms, her tentacles curling in frustration. "But where did the Kraken go? If this dungeon isn't about my past, then where is she?"

Bella tilted her head thoughtfully. "Maybe someone kidnapped her," she offered, half-serious.

Zoe turned to Bella, her sharp gaze narrowing before shifting to Allen. She pointed at him accusingly. "Was it you? Did you kidnap her?"

Allen blinked, caught off guard by the sudden accusation, before letting out a small laugh. "Yeah, sure. Maybe I did. Or maybe in the past you came to me for help, and we're just missing that part of the story."

Alice crossed her arms and tapped her chin. "So… what you're saying is that Zoe's background story might not be in the ocean at all. It could be in the shore fields or something?"

"Or another dungeon ocean," Larissa added, her crimson eyes narrowing in thought. "The prince could've just sailed in the wrong one."

"Typical NPC luck," Bella said with a shrug.

Jane sighed and stood up, brushing off her robe. "Either way, you have to show some respect for this poor prince. He was trying to find you, Zoe. He fell in love with you! Look at everything he went through."

Zoe snorted, tossing her hair back with a dismissive flick of her tentacles. "Well, shit happens."

The bluntness of her words made Shea suppress a laugh, but Jane wasn't amused. She turned to Alice, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "You're not helping! This was a romantic tragedy, and all you have to say is—"

Alice raised her hand and cut her off, her tone as flat as ever. "Jane, you know he's just an NPC, right?"

Vivian jumped in, smirking as she gestured toward the lifeless prince. "Not even an NPC. Just a prop. He only communicates through his letters. No dialogue, no animations. Just… this."

Jane pouted, her shoulders slumping. "I know that! But at least you can pretend to care, right? Maybe act like this whole tragic setup is worth something?"

The group exchanged glances, the silence stretching as they stared at the dead prince. Finally, Bella broke it with a casual shrug.

"Nope," she said simply. "I don't pity props. Sorry."

"Sorry," Alice echoed, her tone completely devoid of remorse.

"So cruel…" Jane muttered, her voice filled with mock offense as she folded her arms. "You could at least try to be decent human beings."

Allen stepped forward, putting a hand on Jane's shoulder. "Let it go, Jane. It's not worth it. Let's just head back, okay?"

Jane sighed but nodded, her indignation fading as she glanced at the shattered bottle one last time. Allen turned to the rest of the group, summoning a portal with a simple wave of his hand.

"Alright," Allen said, his voice steady. "Time to move out." ƒгeewebnovёl.com

One by one, they stepped toward the portal, but Zoe lingered. Her tentacles hung loosely, her sharp gaze fixed on the prince's lifeless form. For a moment, the group thought she might say something, but instead, she simply turned and followed them.