The Extra's Rise-Chapter 794: Demon Duke (2)

"Leopold, no." The words escaped Quinn’s lips before he could stop them, carrying twenty years of suppressed regret and recognition that he was about to lose the one person who had stood by the Empire through every crisis. "There has to be another way. We can retreat, regroup, bring reinforcements—"

"There’s no time," Leopold replied with gentle finality, his hand closing around the hilt of his shattered sword as astral energy began manifesting around him in patterns that made the air itself vibrate with barely contained power. "Vorthak is toying with us now, but he won’t wait forever. And if we fall here, there’s nothing stopping the Order from completing whatever they’re planning."

Demon Duke Vorthak watched their exchange with predatory amusement, his pale features arranged in an expression of bored contempt. "How touching. But your human emotions change nothing about the fundamental reality of this situation. You are cattle contemplating rebellion against your betters."

"Quinn," Leopold continued, ignoring the demon’s taunts while astral energy continued building around his position, "I need to say something before—"

"Don’t." Quinn’s imperial composure finally cracked completely, revealing the raw emotion beneath decades of royal training. "Leopold, I owe you an apology that I should have given years ago. I doubted your loyalty. I questioned your intentions. I spent twenty years watching you for signs of treachery that were never there."

The admission hung between them like a bridge across two decades of unspoken suspicion, while Vorthak’s expression shifted from amusement to irritation at being ignored during what should have been his moment of triumph.

Leopold’s response was a smile that carried warmth reaching back to their shared childhood, when two boys had sworn oath to protect their empire from all threats. "It doesn’t matter, Quinn. We’ve had too many good memories for political concerns to overshadow them."

"But it does matter," Quinn insisted, his voice breaking with emotion that had been suppressed for far too long. "You served the Empire with absolute devotion while I treated you like a potential enemy. You deserved better from your oldest friend."

"We were children when we made those promises to protect our people," Leopold replied with serene acceptance that transcended their current desperate circumstances. "Everything we’ve done since then has been in service of those vows. Your suspicion was just you being a good emperor—cautious, analytical, protective of imperial interests."

Vorthak’s patience finally reached its limits. "Enough of this maudlin display. I grow tired of your human sentimentality."

The demon raised his blade with obvious intent to end their conversation permanently, dark energy coiling around the weapon in patterns that promised immediate annihilation. But Leopold was already moving, his astral energy erupting outward as he prepared to demonstrate why the Astoria name commanded respect throughout the known world.

"I was happy to have a friend like you when we were young," Leopold said while power beyond normal Radiant-rank limitations began manifesting around him. "Before duty and politics and all the complications of ruling got in the way of simple friendship."

The technique Leopold was preparing violated every principle of safe magical practice. Instead of carefully regulating his mana flow to prevent system overload, he deliberately pushed his magical channels beyond their sustainable limits. Energy began bleeding from his skin in patterns that spoke to catastrophic internal damage, while his life force itself became fuel for power that no human body was designed to contain.

"Leopold, stop!" Quinn commanded with imperial authority that had never failed to compel obedience. "I order you to stand down!"

"I wish I could tell Arthur something meaningful," Leopold continued as if Quinn hadn’t spoken, his focus entirely on the approaching demon who had finally recognized the true nature of what was happening. "My daughter fell in love with a boy I did nothing but criticize."

Vorthak’s expression shifted from boredom to genuine concern as he sensed the magnitude of power building in Leopold’s position. "You’re killing yourself, fool. Whatever technique you’re attempting will destroy you regardless of its effectiveness against me."

"And Elara," Leopold whispered, his voice carrying absolute love for the daughter who represented everything pure and good in his world. "My beautiful Elara. She deserves to see a world where monsters like you don’t threaten innocent people."

The astral energy surrounding Leopold reached critical mass, transforming him into something approaching a living star as his life force burned away to fuel power that could challenge even Immortal-rank opponents. His shattered sword reformed in his hands, the broken blade now wreathed in energies that existed at the intersection of life and death.

"Quinn," he said clearly, "when I move, support me with everything you have. This technique will give us one opening, but it has to count."

Understanding flooded through Quinn’s mind as he grasped both the tactical brilliance and personal cost of Leopold’s strategy. The Archduke wasn’t just risking his life—he was spending it, trading his existence for the power needed to break through Vorthak’s seemingly impenetrable defenses.

"I understand," Quinn replied, his own mana surging as he prepared his most powerful techniques. "Together?"

"Together," Leopold confirmed, then launched himself toward the demon with speed that transcended normal physical limitations.

Vorthak met the attack with his own blade, but Leopold’s sacrifice technique had elevated his capabilities beyond anything the demon had previously encountered. The collision between their weapons sent shockwaves through multiple dimensions while reality itself groaned under the pressure of competing forces.

For the first time since the battle began, Vorthak was forced backward.

Quinn seized the opportunity with tactical precision born from decades of combat experience. Nine-circle spells enhanced by his Mage’s Flow Gift erupted around Vorthak’s position, each one perfectly timed to exploit the momentary disruption in the demon’s defenses.

Fire, lightning, and wind combined in patterns that could reshape continents, while Quinn poured his remaining mana reserves into attacks designed to prevent Vorthak from recovering his superior positioning.

But Leopold was already pressing his advantage, his reformed blade cutting through dimensional barriers as he pursued techniques that pushed Sword Unity beyond its normal limitations. Each strike cost him years of remaining life, but created openings that even Vorthak’s superior swordsmanship couldn’t completely counter.

"Impossible," the demon snarled, his pride finally giving way to genuine alarm as Leopold’s burning blade carved through defenses that had never been breached. "No human possesses this level of—"

Leopold’s sword found its mark.

The astral blade, enhanced by the complete sacrifice of its wielder’s life force, pierced through Vorthak’s dimensional defenses and buried itself in the demon’s chest. Dark ichor sprayed across the ruined chamber as the Pride Clan duke stumbled backward with an expression of shocked disbelief.

"This is... not possible," Vorthak whispered, staring at the wound that was spreading corruption through his immortal form. "I am Vorthak, Duke of the Pride Clan. I cannot be defeated by mere humans."

But Leopold’s technique had accomplished what conventional attacks could not. By burning his life force as fuel, he had created a moment where human determination could challenge immortal superiority and emerge victorious.

The demon’s form began to dissolve as his connection to the material plane destabilized, pride finally giving way to recognition of his defeat. With a final roar of frustration and disbelief, Vorthak crumbled into shadow and disappeared, leaving only echoes of malevolent presence.

Leopold collapsed to his knees as the technique’s cost became apparent. His astral energy flickered and died, while his life force ebbed away like water through broken stone. But his eyes remained clear and focused as he turned toward Quinn with obvious effort.

"Quinn," he said softly, his voice carrying absolute peace despite his approaching death, "you were always truly powerful. Not because of your magic or your crown, but because you never stopped caring about protecting people."

"Leopold—" Quinn began, but his friend raised a trembling hand to forestall any protests.

"I need to ask one favor," Leopold continued, his gray eyes holding desperate urgency despite his failing strength. "Elara. My daughter. She’s going to need guidance for what’s coming, and protection from forces she doesn’t understand." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"Of course," Quinn replied without hesitation, moving to kneel beside his dying friend. "Whatever you need."

"Treat her as your own daughter," Leopold whispered, his hand gripping Quinn’s arm with surprising strength. "She has potential to do great things, but she’ll need someone who understands both power and responsibility to help her navigate the challenges ahead."

"I promise," Quinn said with imperial authority that made the words binding upon his soul. "Elara will be protected as if she were my own blood. You have my word as Emperor and as your friend."

Leopold’s smile carried profound relief as his grip loosened and his breathing grew shallow. "Thank you. That’s all I needed to hear."

The Archduke’s eyes closed for the final time as his life force finally exhausted itself, leaving behind only the peaceful expression of someone who had fulfilled his final duty. Quinn remained kneeling beside his oldest friend’s body, imperial composure finally giving way to grief that had been suppressed for far too long.

Leopold Astoria had been truly powerful—not because of his rank or his swordsmanship, but because he had never hesitated to sacrifice everything for the people he loved.

And Quinn would spend the rest of his life trying to be worthy of such friendship.

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