When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 387: The Ninth Prince (2)

Chapter 387: The Ninth Prince (2)

That night, Song Yunshi was adamant on not getting a wink of sleep throughout. Even if he had to cut off a pound of his flesh, he must see the Prince survive until sunrise. He could sense everyone in the prince’s palace getting restless too. Although he had never truly met up with the other players from the same faction, he knew they were all focused on the same goal— to protect the prince.

And he, Song Yunshi, was the very last line of defense the enemies had to go through before they could reach the Prince.

As usual, the boy retired to his chamber and fell asleep without a care in the world, acting as though he was not aware of the so-called ’curse’ that had been plaguing the Crown Princes in the palace. Outside, Song Yunshi stood vigilant alongside the soldiers dispatched by the Emperor himself, ready to repel any assailants from rival factions.

But boy, oh boy, how he had underestimated the situation.

It wasn’t like he had not suspected two or more factions working with each other in order to get rid of their common enemies, but he thought that such a possibility was too unlikely. At the end of the day, they were all enemies, and he found it hard to believe that the players from one faction could collude with those from different factions without worrying that the other would stab them in the back during the critical moments.

And yet, that was the exact scenario unfolding before his eyes.

The ’skilled and mysterious assassin’ turned out to be a coordinated group of players, led by a mastermind with a hypnosis skill card. Just his luck, among the group, there was also a player with nullifying abilities, reducing the efficiency of Song Yunshi’s skill card down to fifty percent, and another player who erected a shield so that no sounds could travel outside.

So this was their ultimate strategy. No wonder they had succeeded in killing four Crown Princes...

Alas, despite knowing that, there was nothing Song Yunshi could do but defend the Ninth Prince’s residence with everything he got.

Song Yunshi might be a formidable player, but he was not invincible. Besieged by a group of players from all sides, each with their own unique skill card, he quickly found himself overwhelmed. Injuries marred his body, and blood spilled from his torn flesh. Even then, he refused to budge even an inch from his spot, acting just like an impenetrable fortress that would stand strong even against the barrage of fire arrows.

The chaotic battlefield failed to rouse the prince from his peaceful slumber. But the strange fact eluded Song Yunshi’s adrenaline-fueled mind, too focused on fending off his enemies.

In hindsight, he should have suspected that something was amiss.

No, perhaps he should have suspected something way, way before this— since the moment when the Prince spoke of his elder brothers’ deaths with a nonchalant smile on his face, or when he joked about his own death earlier the day, as though nothing could faze him at all.

"No—!" Song Yunshi’s pupils dilated sharply as he noticed a large swathe of shadow slithering into the prince’s chamber behind him, while he was occupied with fighting against three players at once.

Time seemed to ground to a halt as the gruesome deaths of the previous princes flashed in his mind. He had not actually seen the corpses with his own eyes due to the lack of authority and his unwillingness to leave the boy’s side, but he had heard lots, lots of rumors circulating within the palace—

Hearsay the princes had their eyeballs gouged out, every bone in their bodies shattered and their organs crushed. And the worst thing was, it was suspected that they were still alive during the torture, forced to endure the excruciating pain until their last moments...

"A–ARRGHHH!!!" A terrifying, inhuman shriek pierced the air from within the chamber, causing Song Yunshi’s heart to run cold. Meanwhile, the other players celebrated yet another prince’s demise with loud and exuberant cheers.

"Let’s go!" The mastermind commanded. "Our business is done here. Don’t bother yourself with these people," he sneered. "It’s not like they have long to live anyway."

The three players who were engaged in a ferocious battle with Song Yunshi retreated at once, leaving him staring at their backs blankly, his chest still heaving with exertion.

Impossible... his Prince... his Prince was...

The agonizing scream reverberated in the air for a long, long time. At some point of time, it did not even sound human anymore, but more like eerie wails of the wronged spirits in Hell.

Song Yunshi felt a lump forming in his throat. Perhaps it was the fear of death, or perhaps he had foolishly grown fond of the young boy he had shadowed for over a year despite knowing the other person’s identity as an NPC— at that moment, Song Yunshi felt vivid pain in his heart as though he had lost a dear family member.

Abandoning his sword, he scrambled toward the entrance like a madman, his voice cracking as he called out for the other person.

"Y–Your High—" he began, but his words ended up faltering as he stared at the gruesome scene before him, disbelief coursing through him like lightning.

The princes had their eyeballs gouged out—

"AARRGH— HELP— PLEASE... PLEASE KILL ME!!"

Every bone in their bodies shattered and organs crushed—

Song Yunshi stared blankly at the figure spasming on the ground whose appearance did not resemble a human anymore. His four limbs were twisted in an unnatural angle, thick veins flaring up his neck, and his body covered in blood from head to toe. Rather than wounds inflicted by weapons, it looked more like... the flesh had been torn by sharp teeth. Like the bite marks of a savage animal. The most horrific injuries, however, lay in his eyes where only two empty sockets remained, crimson blood oozing out relentlessly.

Song Yunshi recognized this person. He was one of the players from the enemy faction— the one who had the ability to move in shadows, making him the perfect person to execute assassinations unhindered.

And the worst thing was, it was suspected that they were still alive during the torture, forced to endure the excruciating pain until their last moments...

Breath caught in his throat, Song Yunshi slowly, very very slowly raised his head to behold the young boy he had been worrying about, seated on his bed with his legs swaying leisurely. It was difficult to discern whether he was truly unharmed, given the blood splattering all over his body, especially his hands and face.

However...

There was no hint of fear in his eyes as he gazed at the dying player. All that remained was boredom as he played with the eyeballs between his fingers.

Upon sensing the presence of another, he lifted his head and arched a brow, "You’re done?" He pointed at the squirming body beneath his feet. "Take care of him, will you? He’s disturbing my sleep."

"Y–Your Highness...?" Song Yunshi stuttered out, still unable to wrap his head around the current situation. What was going on? Who was this person in front of him?

Song Yunshi prided himself on being fearless and tough-minded, yet when the boy cast an amused glance at him, he found himself petrified in place, his blood freezing up. An unprecedented surge of fear spread in his heart, and his instinct as a seasoned player immediately issued a warning, telling him that— this boy was dangerous, more dangerous than anyone he had encountered before!

"What is it?" He lightly threw an eyeball up to the air and caught it right into his mouth, chewing zealously. "If you don’t want to die, then you’d better do as I say, human."

Ah. Realization hit Song Yunshi like a bolt of lightning, sending icy shivers down his spine. This boy has never been an ordinary NPC. He’s a nightmare creature – a high-level one at that.