Chapter 3•••Rise Of A Worthless Royal (Part 3)•••

•••Rise Of A Worthless Royal (Part 3)•••

As soon as Jiar grabbed the mysterious staff, he felt as if time had paused. Green forks of energy coursed through his body. His pupils dilated as he was engulfed in a jade aura.

Time was unpaused. Jiar's body levitated gradually, metamorphosing like a mosaic. The poisoned knives and fireballs ricocheted as they collided with an invisible protection field. The dungeons shook from the shockwaves radiating from his transformation.

Jiar descended, and the green halo died down. The boy touched the floor, stood to his full height, and took a deep breath.

"Something feels different," he said aloud.

"You have been born anew, my prince," Althea's voice said in his head.

Jiar looked at his newly forged, well-defined body. He was incredibly muscular yet athletic, about a foot taller than before. He had the appearance of a Greek god.

"This feels great," he said, making a fist.

Jiar gripped his staff tighter and turned to the assassins. They had been shocked mute by his transformation. Their trance was broken, and they fired petrification spells and fireballs at him, which bounced off his protection field.

Realizing he was immune to magical attacks, they rushed at him with swords drawn.

Jiar smirked and banged his magical staff on the floor. A river of black mud flooded into the dungeon floor, and his attackers were trapped in it.

They struggled in vain as they drowned in the magical swamp. In moments they disappeared, and the black mud retreated into his staff.

"Mmm, that was a nice meal," Althea said aloud. She transformed into physical form again.

Jiar's pupils contracted, and he fell to his knees.

"Careful, my Prince. You are yet to get acquainted with your new body. Give it some time."

Jiar raised his eyes to the beautiful maiden in front of him. She looked older now, almost of age.

"What was that black swamp?" he asked Althea. "And how did I summon it? As far as I remember, I am magicless. The Head Mage confirmed that."

"The black mud was shadow magic," she replied, placing a hand on his handsome cheek. "You perceived danger, and your body acted on instinct. True, your old body lacked magical circuits. However, once you bonded with me, my magic became yours."

"I see," Jiar said, getting to his feet. He stretched a bit to get familiar with his new body.

"This is amazing. But what happened to the assassins?"

"Well," Althea replied with a naughty smirk. "I couldn't let good food be wasted."

The Prince raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to need this regularly? I mean, this kind of food?"

Althea walked to the room's exit. "I consume their soul cores, not their bodies. Anyway, my Prince, you have more work to do. Your kingdom is under attack. Let's go!"

***

Luxar Castle, Throne Room

A masked assassin rushed into the throne room.

"My Lord! My Lord! We are doomed!"

"What is it?" Kumorian asked. "Did they kill Jiar already?"

He stood over his brother's corpse and adjusted the royal crown on his head.

"My Lord, Prince Jiar is nowhere to be found. But there is an overpowered mage on their side. He has killed the best of our warriors. Moreover, the king's loyal generals gathered outside with an army. We have no escape!"

Kumorian slapped the assassin across the face.

"You blabbering idiot! There is no mage stronger than me in the castle. The generals will eventually plead their allegiance to me once they know their king is dead. There's nothing to panic about."

"My Lord, he is coming..."

Jiar walked into the throne room, Althea in staff form in his grip.

"Kumorian..." he mouthed.

"Who the hell are you?" his uncle asked, generating a ball of lightning in his hand.

"I am Jiar, the crown prince. I am back to kill the kingslayer."

"What nonsense!" Kumorian exclaimed, casting an attack on him. "Jiar is a weakling with no magic."

The lightning ball bounced off the Prince.

Kumorian raised an eyebrow. "A protection field? So you are the mage who has been killing my followers?"

"My Prince, the protection field of your transformation will not last long," Althea warned him. "Since you aren't accomplished in magic yet, you are now using the remainder of magic on the staff. Use it wisely."

Jiar nodded. "I have awakened into my true form, Kumorian," he fired. "This is the end of your treacherous life."

He banged the staff on the floor, and branches of green electrical sparks flew out, targeting every other assassin in the throne room. Half of Kumoria's followers were dead instantly.

"This is impossible!" his uncle exclaimed in shock. "Kill him!"

A volley of weapons and magic was fired at Jiar, but again, they bounced off. This time the attacks came closer to his body.

"Be careful, Prince!" Althea warned again. "The magic is wearing off!"

Jiar waved his staff, and a massive fire beast leaped out of it. It swooped into the throne room with a roar, consuming all remaining assassins. They were scorched alive.

As the screams died, Jiar turned to his traitor uncle, who stared at him in disbelief. The boy knew his protection field was already down. He had no idea how much magic was left in the staff. But he was ready to fist-fight his father's killer if that's what it took.

"Why did you do it, uncle? Father loved you. I admired you. Everything was perfect."

Kumorian's face twisted into a look of scorn. "I was done living in my brother's shadows and his precious morals. He was actually a coward who was afraid of expanding his kingdom. He should have named me as his heir instead of you!"

"And so you killed him? Your own brother?!"

Kumorian grinned. "And I would have slaughtered you too. But something strange has happened to you. I am smart enough to know when I am defeated."

Kumorian brought out a glowing orb and crashed it on the floor.

With a flash, a portal opened up. He walked into it before Jiar could react.

"I will return with an army and take what is mine!" his voice echoed as the portal closed behind him.