I Became the First Prince

still running wildly within me.
In the end, it was my job to grab the reins and lead it.

“Woo,” I took a deep breath, and I began contemplating my body.
My insides were messed up by the unbearable amount of mana.
My fingers and toes were shriveled, and my flesh was twisted.
In such a messed-up body, the mana was flowing randomly within me.
It would probably not stop until it turned my body into a bloody pulp.
I looked for a break, found it, and grabbed the reigns of the raging energy.

‘Ahhhhhhhhhh!’

The mana began to run wilder, crazier.
It was such a powerful energy that I wondered if I would be able to lead it properly even if I had all my Sword Master mana intact.
In contrast, I now only had a handful of my own mana.
It would be strange if I could easily guide this energy.
Still, I had no intention of giving up.

‘Wow!’

In every urgent moment, my uncles’ rings resonated fiercely and added their strength.
So, without giving up, my uncle succeeded in opening a path and added his willpower.
His first ring was difficult to get through; the second and third faced less difficulty.
The fourth and fifth were far easier.
I continued to spiral in the direction the energy was going in and guided it where I wanted it.
It didn’t want to follow my guidance.
Whenever I moved it along the path, it would turn its head and jump away whenever it got the chance.
I persistently led such a thing by the reins, and it remained fierce.
But at some point, it started to express this ferocity by simply running violently along a fixed path.
Whether I told it to slow down, speed up, stop, or start moving again, it followed no commands.
I also didn’t try to force control over it.
I would simply take the reigns from time to time and prevent it from veering off the road.
One, two, three…

Mana now ran constantly through my body.
Little by little, as it flowed, it melted into my heart.
From here on out, it was time to fight.
Either my body would become completely pulped and melted, or I would completely settle the mana in my heart.

Ten seconds.
The energy rumbled, and a thick liquid flowed out of my nose.

Twenty seconds.
Suddenly, blood spilled from my mouth.

Thirty seconds.
My entire body seemed to be burning.

Forty seconds.
My vision had long since faded to white.

Fifty seconds.
I heard no sound.

Sixty seconds.
The sensation of having a body disappeared.

Seventy seconds.
My consciousness began to intermittently fade.

Eighty seconds.
Death was approaching.

Ninety seconds.
Now was the limit.

“Back!”

I turned the direction in which the mana flowed with all my energy—somewhere in the direction of my broken mana heart.
My mana heart began absorbing mana at a rapid pace.
But as it was, it was already a broken vessel, so it could no longer hold anything.

‘Bkra Bkra!’

A crack appeared in my mana heart.

‘Bang!’

Then, it shattered with a loud sound.
Slivers of my fragmented mana heart spread throughout my body, scattering to all points of it.
The slivers all started to melt.

“Twaah!”

Terrible pain blossomed wherever a fragment had gotten stuck.
My sensations quickly revived, and my sense of time normalized.
My hearing was restored—touch, smell, and taste; I had regained all my original functions.
That was the beginning-

‘Wuduk!’

My broken body began to regenerate rapidly.
This rebirth was accomplished from a state of near-total collapse.

“At last…”

However, instead of moaning, I was delighted.

‘Qwaak!’

Both my hands strengthened up.
Until moments before, these two fists could barely hold a carving knife; now they were firmly muscled.

“Adelia!” I shouted.

‘Bwok!’

The door opened, and Adelia entered.

“Highness?”

As she looked at me with her eyes wide open, she turned pale.

“Your Highness! Blood all over your body!”

“Okay! Sword!” I cried out to her.
“Twilight! My sword!”

Faced with my sudden words, Adelia was unsure about what to do, and tears began welling in her eyes.

“Hurry!” I pushed her back.
I couldn’t stand being without a sword right now.

“Well, wait a minute-”

Adelia, after staggering back, left.
When she came back, she was holding my sword.

“Here…”

She carefully handed Twilight over, and I grasped it.
It was nice to have the cold touch of the hilt in my hand.
Unwittingly, I raised the corners of my mouth into a grin.
My mind felt endlessly elated.

“Hoofoo.”

The breathtaking feeling of fullness made me take long, peaceful breaths.

“I- Your Highness?”

Adelia looked at me and widened her eyes.
Ignoring her, I quietly lifted my sword.

“Your Highness! Not in here!”

I heard Adelia’s scream-

‘Pwot!’

And then slashed my sword down.
A light appeared where my sword passed.
It was like a ray of dawn driving away the deep night.
This bright ray of light spread across the darkened room, filling my eyes.
I watched the light as if possessed.
I stared blankly at it until it completely disappeared, leaving no trace.

“Finally!”

I clenched my fist, and laughter burst out from deep in my lungs.
I couldn’t withstand it; like a madman, I was bent double at the waist as I laughed so much that my stomach felt sore and tears came from my eyes.
After laughing for a long time, I sheathed my sword at my waist and declared, “I am back.”

I’ve come a long, long way, and I was finally back.

So I cried, “I’m back!”

Right then-

‘Crshka!’

A threatening noise broke into my ears.

“Highness!”

One instant later, I heard Adelia’s screams.