Berserk: The Prophet

That being said, if one were to wield a two-handed sword in the usual way within the indoor space, the speed would certainly not be able to keep up with Madwood's staff. While maintaining a firm defense, Heikel searched for an opportunity to turn the tide.

Heikel deflected Madwood's spiked club with the end of his sword. Even knowing that a counterattack would only result in him being caught by the broken blade, Heikel still swung his sword at Madwood.

Although the blade grazed his neck, it was just a hair's breadth away from his carotid artery.

Madwood used his broken blade to hold Hecker's sword in place, then raised his mace and struck the center of the blade with all his might. Sparks flew, and Hecker's sword snapped in two.

"......!" Hickel was at her wit's end, and Madwood raised his weapon, intending to kill her.

"Don't lay a hand on me!" A familiar voice came from the doorway.

Upon seeing the source of the voice, Hickel looked astonished, "...Edward?"

"...Huh?" The color that the man projected onto Benedict's heart was no longer the vibrant yellow and the friendly green of the past. The dark blue that had briefly appeared in his heart, like a will-o'-the-wisp, had now swelled and grown larger.

No, it couldn't be described as will-o'-the-wisp anymore; it was burning fiercely as if it were about to consume Edward's entire heart. The warm yellow and green flames had been pushed to the sides and almost extinguished by the dark blue ghostly fire.

“…Mr. Edward.” Benedict was at a loss for words. Her close friend, who had been with Gurenbelud yesterday, hadn't acted like this…

Foreshadowing... Edward's ghostly blue flames...

"Don't let your guard down just because she's a woman. Be careful not to get your neck bitten off. After all, this guy is that fire dragon's right-hand man..." Madwood wiped the blood flowing from the wound on her neck with her fingers and licked it.

"...Oh, right, right. This woman is Your Highness's beloved!" Madwood chuckled knowingly.

For most feudal aristocratic men, women were merely a ladder to higher political classes, or... nothing more than playthings.

"Enough!! I just need Benedict Cuthbert as a hostage!" Edward interrupted Madwood, his pale, haggard face suddenly flushing red. He hadn't expected Heckler to be here!!

Logically speaking, she should be playing alongside Gulenberdo right now, as he is not even mentally prepared to face Hickel.

The unbelievable scene before him left Hickel completely bewildered.

"...What is this? What's going on, Edward? Hostages...? Did you betray Glenberudo? Why...? " With his keen insight, Hikel gleaned unusual information from just a few words between the two.

"No..." Faced with Hickel's questioning, Edward seemed to have all his strength drained away in an instant, tears welling up in his bloodshot eyes.

The mouth, which wanted to offer some explanation, was now so powerless... because that was indeed the case.

He was powerless to reverse the situation, nor could he stand by and watch his mother suffer inhuman torment. He could no longer silently protect the country, and his promise to Hekel to protect this land together was destined to be shattered.

Even the vow once made to protect Hikel and Gurunberdo will... vanish into thin air.

In just half a day, Edward's eyes were already bloodshot, and his face was thin and haggard. Because he had been severely exhausted both physically and mentally for the past two days and had not slept, the handsome and sharp-eyed young nobleman of the past was no longer visible.

What happened to him in that short period of time? If Edward had received her message, he should be at the Dragon's Nest supporting Gurenberudo right now.

Edward took a deep breath, suppressing the excruciating pain and sorrow in his heart.

What difference would it make if we told Hicker? General Kirsten was dead!

He'd rather die than be a burden to Gurunberdo! He was driven to his death by his own hands...the teacher who raised the three of them...Gurunberdo's adoptive father...

So much pain and utter helplessness—how could it be explained in just a few words?! And how could I forgive myself for already being a traitor!

Such pain and utter confusion are better left to me alone. At least, Heikell, unaware of the truth, wouldn't be suffering as much as I am!

Let him be the bad guy all by himself! Let him bear all the suffering!

"Hahaha... In the end, I really am a member of the royal family, a bloodline as rotten as a sewer." Edward used maniacal laughter to cover a tear in the corner of his eye and the lump in his throat that was about to choke. He absolutely could not allow himself to show such a vulnerable side in front of Heikell.

Hicker watched helplessly as his old friend and his newly blossoming love revealed self-destructive smiles, their faces contorted in ugly, twisted expressions.

...it seems that one can indeed find traces of Grand Duke He Kun in it.

“I will become the king of this island. I have made up my mind, and this is the only path I have left to take.” Edward murmured in a trembling voice, as if he were speaking not to anyone else, but to himself.

He had nothing left to lose; all he wanted now was to be a puppet emperor who could keep his mother safe...

Hickel... I don't ask for your forgiveness...

“Edward…” Hickel’s eyes were filled with complex emotions: pity, indignation, disappointment, and something else that was hard to detect.

"Father, Father said I am the one who is qualified to be king!" Edward's reaction was more intense than expected.

"I am the one who will kill Gurenbeldo with my own hands, and that is the one who truly possesses the qualities of a king!! My father said it himself..." Every word made Edward feel like he had a fishbone stuck in his throat, but he had to hysterically use a frantic tone to keep talking in order to cover up his true emotions.

He broke down...

Edward discovered he simply couldn't accept the way Heckler looked at him...

When a crack appears in the heart, the "demon" will pour in.

The unbearable and unbearable reality left Hickel speechless. She had never imagined that Edward would betray Glenn Belludeau, betray their unbreakable friendship.

“My brother…” Benedict spoke quietly, and Edward and Hickel both turned to look at her abruptly.

“My brother truly considers you his most important friend… and still does.” Benedict could sense the intense malice around her, even the crimson killing intent emanating from the man named Madwood, just like the one who had come to assassinate her that day.

Her body trembled uncontrollably; only Heechul could give her strength. Benedict Cuth could see the two faint flames in Edward's heart emitting sounds of extreme pain, locked in a struggle and conflict with the eerie blue flames.

Unfortunately, the dark blue flame was far too powerful, almost scorching Edward's entire body.

“I’m so happy to hear you say that…” Edward’s face twisted into a smile.

"As long as you obediently follow me, even a fire dragon that commands the wind and rain on the battlefield will have to crawl on the ground and obediently cooperate with my demands!" The admiration and jealousy that had been suppressed in his heart for many years completely erupted at this moment, and Edward laughed excitedly and hysterically.

He couldn't even imagine what it would be like to see someone as rigid and stubborn as Gullenbeludo kneeling down and begging... what a delightful scene that would be.

But would he really lower himself for Benedict Cuthott? Haha, well, I can't get love anyway, so don't even think about it, Gurunberdo.

Hickel simply couldn't bear to look at Edward's current appearance and looked away.

“I used to love how harmonious and beautiful the three of you were...like the colors of a painting,” Benedict Cuth said sadly.

The moment he heard those words, the twisted smile vanished from Edward's face.

"Ah..." His consciousness was pulled back to those warm times in the past—and then, a huge silver figure jumped in through the window.

"Ludvik!!"

The silver wolf pounced on Madwood and, taking advantage of his unpreparedness, tore off his right arm.

"Gah!" Madwood screamed in agony.