In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities-Chapter 195 The Crown Prince’s Downfall

Confident as he departed the fortress, Randolph gradually found himself overwhelmed by the feeling that something was amiss. His intentions had been clear when he left: to flank the enemy's camp, launch a surprise attack, and capture the crown prince of the Pamir Empire.

To that end, he had even brought one of the royal treasures, an artifact capable of cloaking its wearer's presence and rendering them invisible. With this artifact and mounted on his griffon, Randolph believed he could easily infiltrate the enemy camp, cause confusion, and achieve his goal. After all, hadn't Michael managed to assassinate enemy commanders with just a small group of elite operatives?

The plan appeared sound in theory: unleash thousands of soldiers to sow chaos in the enemy camp, while a single, invisible warrior captured their leader. However, the plan's success hinged on several critical conditions.

Accurate intelligence about the enemy camp was essential.The artifact's functionality had to remain consistent, even during combat, which required the user to have trained extensively with it. The artifact wasn't all-powerful—it demanded mental fortitude from its wielder.The individual tasked with capturing the enemy leader needed to be experienced, decisive, and highly skilled in combat.The soldiers and knights involved needed to be disciplined, cooperative, and well-trained.

Unfortunately, Randolph and his forces failed to meet any of these criteria.

As time passed, Randolph's initial confidence waned. The further he distanced himself from Elise's influence, the clearer his mind became, and his returning judgment began to sound alarms. The haze that had clouded his thoughts lifted, revealing the flaws in his plan. But by then, it was too late.

The ambush failed catastrophically. The 5,000 cavalry he had led were annihilated in an instant. They were discovered before they could breach the enemy camp's defenses and were quickly decimated. Randolph had believed their movements were cautious, but the enemy had known of their approach all along.

As soon as they neared the enemy camp, a relentless rain of arrows descended upon them. Caught off guard and disorganized, Randolph's forces were soon surrounded. The mocking, incredulous stares of the enemy soldiers remained etched in Randolph's memory. They couldn't comprehend how such an unprepared force could have dared to attack.

Baron Philip, who had previously boasted with grand words, vanished during the chaos. Whether he fled to save himself or perished was unknown.

Seeing no other option, Randolph shouted for his men to retreat. Scattered and confused, the soldiers fled in all directions. Randolph, too, managed to escape amidst the chaos, riding his griffon. However, he wasn't entirely free; enemy pursuers trailed him closely.

As Randolph frantically urged his griffon to flee, his confidence crumbled entirely. He tried to maintain his invisibility using the artifact, but his scattered thoughts rendered it ineffective.

Flying away was impossible. His griffon, a loyal companion for years, had been targeted during the battle. Its wings had been shattered by concentrated attacks, leaving it unable to take flight. The sight of the griffon struggling to save him, despite its injuries, filled Randolph with indescribable sorrow.

As the griffon staggered away, covered in blood, a ballista bolt struck it, delivering a fatal blow. The creature collapsed, looking up at Randolph with dimming eyes. Letting out a final cry, the griffon closed its eyes forever. Randolph stroked its feathers and leaned against its still-warm body.

"So, this is how it ends," he thought bitterly. "Father, Mother, Astrid… Elise…"

With his returning clarity, Randolph began to see Elise in a suspicious light. If he died here, she would ascend to the royal family as a legitimate crown princess. The realization twisted his heart.

Blaming his incompetence, Randolph wept. Fortunately, he wore plain clothes, concealing his identity as the crown prince of Lania. If the enemy had discovered who he was, they would have captured him and forced him to sign a humiliating treaty.

This, he thought bitterly, might be the only contribution he had made to his kingdom.

Leaning against the body of his fallen companion, Randolph's thoughts wandered to his first meeting with Michael. He remembered that day vividly, approaching to admire the sphinxes and dragons, feeling radiant and full of potential. A single tear slid down his cheek as he recalled the past.

Resigned to his fate, Randolph opened his eyes, determined to face death with dignity. But his surroundings darkened. Cold, black shadows began to encroach on him.

"What is this…?" he murmured, stopping his hand mid-stroke on the griffon's feathers.

The shadows around him moved as though alive, slithering like a serpent's tongue. They extended toward him, and though he tried to recoil, his strength had left him. Randolph was drawn into the darkness, his body growing colder with each passing moment, until he lost consciousness.

Iskar loomed over Randolph, his expression impassive. For someone destined to inherit a kingdom, the crown prince was remarkably inept. Approaching Randolph, Iskar extended a hand to his head. The shadows, controlled with precision, began to dismantle Randolph's mind.

Even as he reduced a man to a hollow shell, Iskar felt no guilt. Randolph's past actions had been foolish enough; becoming a true simpleton might be an improvement. At the very least, it ensured that he would no longer pose a threat to Michael.

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Princess Elise felt an instinctive fear under Duke Capone's gaze, her shoulders trembling slightly. His piercing eyes were sharp and cold, reminiscent of a serpent's stare.

As a princess raised in the royal court, where she'd been privy to the kingdom's secrets, Elise had no trouble guessing why the duke was looking at her with such suspicion. Her entire body stiffened under the weight of that gaze, but she refused to give up so easily. The thought of stopping now was unbearable.

Drawing on her usual charm, Elise struck a delicate, vulnerable pose, emphasizing her slender waist and contrastingly full chest. Her voice, soft and imploring, carried a calculated undertone as she spoke.

"For His Highness's recovery, I believe it would be best to leave this fortress. Given my condition, accompanying him to the Lania palace would be ideal…"