I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

Chapter 10: Convocation (3)

Silence~

The audience chamber became so quiet that even the sound of dust falling could be heard. The people are motionless as if frozen to the spot.

‘Did he plan to do this from the beginning?’

Zion faced the emperor looking at him. The situation was turning interesting. In fact, this was the only way Urdios could help him. If he designated him as the successor, he would be closer to the next emperor than anyone else, at least in terms of legitimacy, regardless of qualifications and power. The Shadow of Eternity, the eyes of the empire that only follow the emperor’s instructions will also be more manageable.

‘But the question is whether the other princes and princesses will accept that?’

The backlash must be huge and the emperor must also be aware of it. Nevertheless, officially designating Zion as his successor means that he will wait and see how he will get through this. 

Yes, it was both a help and a test. Will he truly be qualified to become the emperor, and will he be capable enough to protect this empire, which is already on the verge of collapse due to the penetration of the Demon Realm?

“Father! What do you mean by that?”

As Zion had expected, Third Prince Enoch shouted at Urdios with a look of incomprehension. How perplexed he was, he referred to Urdios as ‘father’, not His Majesty the Emperor.

“Di–did you say you’re going to make him your successor?”

Just because the emperor names him as his official successor does not mean that he can become the next emperor unconditionally. Urdios was not named as a successor either, but he became the emperor by killing all the other siblings. However, it was true that it helped because he was recognized to some extent by the legitimate emperor faction, which follows only the emperor to the bone.

“Yes.”

Looking down at Enoch, Urdios spoke again as if to make it firm.

“That’s nonsense! Doesn’t Your Majesty know? What position Zion is in Imperial Palace! How he is treated! Isn’t it Your Majesty who locked Zion in the Chimseong Palace in the first place?”

Before Enoch answered again, Diena, who was next to him, broke the composure she had maintained even when Zion blew the wizard’s head and shouted at Urdios. In her head, there was a suspicion that her father, who is now in front of her, might have been senile. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have named Zion as his successor. And it was the same for Utekan.

“I’ve always followed my father’s words so far, but I can’t understand it this time!”

Of course, they wouldn’t accept that. Whether it’s 100 people or 1000 people. Even if you ask anyone who is passing by, they wouldn’t be bullshitting about naming the imprisoned prince as his successor. Rather, other siblings could accept it even if they were angry. However, they couldn’t understand why the successor was Zion.

“May I ask why you chose Zion?”

Unlike those three, Evelyn, who still maintains her reason, asked the emperor in a calm voice.

“Because I’ve decided that he is fit to be the next emperor among you.”

“What do you mean…!”

The faces of the royal family are further distorted by Urdios’ shocking words that continue.

“I can’t admit it. This is… absolutely unacceptable!”

The third prince Enoch even expresses his anger toward the emperor now. However, Urdios’ eyes looking at Enoch were so calm. Once he speaks, he never reverses his words. That is the iron rule that Emperor Urdios has followed up to now and will continue to follow in the future. It was best known to the royal family who had been watching from the side for a long time.

Furthermore, only the emperor has the authority to name his successor. There was no difference just because they didn’t admit it. Maybe it’s because they already knew that.

‘My father has already made up his mind. This is already irreversible. Then what I have to do here is…’

Diana, who regained her composure, quickly used her head. Soon after, a low voice came out of her mouth.

“I understand. I will obey Your Majesty’s will.”

“Diena! What does that mean…!”

“Instead—”

Diena continues to talk, cutting off Enoch’s words and looking confused.

“I have a suggestion.”

“Say it.”

At the emperor’s words, the fifth princess’s snake-like eyes look toward Zion.

“I’m sure everyone here knows. How Zion is called.”

The imprisoned prince, the cowardly imperial son, the shame of Agnes, etc.

“There’s no good word, and actually so far, Zion has behaved accordingly. Although he has changed recently, only a few people know it.”

Certainly, it was Diena who admitted to some extent that the scene Zion showed a while ago had changed because it was enough to surprise her.

“What if we suddenly point to Zion as our successor in this situation? Even so, we will have a huge backlash from other members of the empire, such as councilors, aristocrats, and knights. They’ll never stop doubting his qualifications and complaining. No, perhaps they would not obey.”

She was talking to Urdios again.

“So why don’t we give them a chance?”

“A chance?”

“A chance to prove the qualification of a successor.”

“With what?”

“The Seven Catastrophes.”

Diena’s eyes draw a deep crescent-shaped line.

“Let’s solve one of them.”

The seven great disasters of the empire. Rebellions, conflicts, and monsters with transcendent powers. The seven major disasters were the most difficult in the empire and the highest level of harm that required enormous manpower and energy to solve. Although the harms belonging to it have changed over time, the name of the seven major disasters itself has always existed. And one of the tests for the heir to the throne was to solve one of these seven major disasters.

“To be an emperor anyway, we have to solve it someday. If Zion really solves one of the seven disasters, the backlash from us and the rest of the people will be gone. No, beyond that, there could also be supporters of Zion. I think we can prove our credentials this much. What do you think?”

That’s what she says, but Diena didn’t think Zion could solve the seven major disasters. Basically, the dangers of the seven major disasters could not be solved individually. No matter how much he had recently gained strength and changed, Zion, who had not a single force, would likely have had no chance of winning to solve the disaster. Surely Zion would not accept this impossible proposal. If he did, Diena would use it as an excuse to take the initiative.

“I don’t think that’s a bad suggestion.”

“Haha, I also agree with Diena’s suggestion.”

The third and fourth princes noticed her intentions and added words. They also didn’t think Zion could solve the disaster.

“Ho….”

There was excitement in Urdios’ eyes. The emperor looked at Zion as if he would accept this proposal. Along with that, the people’s eyes also begin to focus on Zion.

‘I roughly expected this to happen, but…’

Zion laughed heartily as he felt such a gaze. Even if they did not know the future, the actions of the people here were hardly beyond Zion’s expectations.

‘Anyhow, among the seven major disasters, there is something I need to directly intervene, solve, and get.’

If it is known to the world, it is so appetizing that various forces, including the royal family will rush to get their hands on it.

‘It wouldn’t hurt to take this opportunity.’

After thinking like that, Zion slowly opened his mouth.

“Alright, this time I’ll prove it to you all.”

“…!”

The eyes of the royal family begin to be dyed with surprise again at the unexpected reply. Zion continued to talk as he looked at the royal family members.

“But next time you all have to prove yourselves to me.”

Would they be really useful to me? Zion’s eyes were bent like a crescent moon who said so.

* * *

What Zion did when he returned to Chimseong Palace after finishing his work at Baekseong Palace was to head to the underground training hall. Anyway, he had time before he left the Imperial City to solve one of the seven major disasters anyway.

Until then, Zion was planning to refine his power a little more.

Srrk—

Zion embodied the darkened sword Eclaxia in his hand. The mythical weapon, Eclaxia had various additional functions, as befitted its grade, and this was one of them.

‘Where did the other half of the sword go?’

Zion frowned slightly, looking at the tip of the broken Annihilation Sword. After obtaining Eclaxia from the Dreams of the Stars, Zion focused on studying Eclaxia along with training his body for a week. The result was that it was difficult to use the Annihilation Sword to practice in its current state.

‘To be precise, making the other half of the sword is difficult.’

In order to use Eclaxia in combat, he needed half of the remaining sword body that had disappeared. Fortunately, that sword blade could be created temporarily using Zion’s own Astral Darkness. The problem was that the total amount of the Astral Darkness that went into it was too enormous for him to handle.

‘Right now, the time I can maintain the sword is only a few minutes.’

Maybe he can use it as a hidden shot at a crucial moment. In order to improve this, he needs to raise the level of the Astral Darkness or find half of the body of the sword.

‘But what’s fortunate is that other effects can be used properly.’

Of these, the effect Zion considered the best was the preservation and amplification of Astral Darkness. Using these two effects, the achievement of the Astral Darkness could be improved much faster and more efficiently.

‘At this rate, three stars won’t be too far.’

The only thing Zion lacks is the physical part and the absolute amount of the Astral Darkness. He had already seen the end once, so there were no such things as mental boundary walls blocking his way forward.

‘If I use Eclaxia, wouldn’t I be able to use a Lunar Eclipse even if it’s impossible?’

Zion, thinking so, looked at Eclaxia in his hand.

Lunar Eclipse.

A technique that amplifies the Astral Darkness flowing in the body like an instant explosion, giving more volume to use it. It was a fraudulent technique that could turn the tables in the most difficult situations at once.

It was a technique that was not used very much in his previous life because it could only be maintained for a short time and the burden on the body was enormous once used. However, it was also a necessary technique for the current Zion. Originally, it was a high-level skill that could barely be imitated even if he reaches the three stars of Astral Darkness, but it was possible, albeit imperfect, by using Eclaxia.

‘Let’s see…’

Whoosh!

To try it out as he remembered, Zion pushed the Astral Darkness into the Annihilation Sword and created the other half of the sword body. The perfect Eclaxia absorbs all the light around as it turns the surroundings black. Along with that, the blood vessels in Zion’s entire body vibrate as if it was pumping and began to amplify the Astral Darkness flowing in it.

Pound, pound, pound!

As if it’s a heart trying to explode, it beats as fast as it could accompanied by uncontrollably fluctuating darkness. The moment when the heartbeat and the darkness fluctuations finally reached their peak.

Tuk.

Everything stopped in an instant as if time had stopped. And then—

Squeak.

A strange sound came from deep within Zion’s body. It was like the sound of a rusty door opening. Along with that—

—————!

The surrounding darkness sinks heavily in an instant and as soon as such darkness is about to take some form—

“Let’s stop here.”

Zion put away the half-Eclaxia sword he had made. It was going to be really taxing on his body if he continued any longer.

‘I just needed to know if I could use Lunar Eclipse.’

I canceled it as soon as it was activated, but I already felt stiff all over my body. I probably won’t be able to move properly for the time being if I activate it until the end.

‘I think I’m ready now.’

Thinking so, Zion, who turned Eclaxia into darkness again, slowly left the underground training hall. Zion’s eyes glaze cold as if the time has come. It was time to come into contact with the eyes of the Empire.