The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne

”Oh? You’ve noticed us, huh? As expected of the Great Velmora Empire—you really are impressive.”

A man in a black cloak and mask stepped through the gate.

He was tall and muscular, but his face was hidden behind the mask, and his body was shrouded in the cloak, leaving his true appearance a mystery.

Luke stared at him, frozen in shock.

”You... are you the Sixth Cardinal, Gluttony?” he exclaimed, horror evident in his voice.

In the hierarchy of the Underworld Gate, there were seven cardinals: Wrath, Envy, Greed, Sloth, Lust, Pride, and Gluttony.

Years ago, the Great Velmora Empire had waged a brutal war against that heretical cult, and it was the cardinals who had spilled the most blood of the imperial army.

Luke remembered killing one of them—the Cardinal of Envy.

The battle had been far from easy, especially since he had spent three days in a coma afterward.

And now, one of the most powerful cardinals—the Cardinal of Gluttony—stood before him, igniting a surge of hatred in his veins.

”Oh? It seems someone still remembers me,” the Cardinal of Gluttony said, feigning surprise.

His gaze fixed on Luke, and then he seemed to recall a past death.

”Wait... Luke Lionheart? You’re the one who killed the Cardinal of Envy back then, aren’t you?”

Luke’s lips curled into a wide grin as he drew his sword.

”Yes, I am Luke Lionheart. I didn’t expect you to remember me. Did your comrade’s death leave you holding a grudge?” He sneered.

”You...” The Cardinal of Gluttony seethed with fury. ”Don’t get arrogant, Luke Lionheart! This time, our arrival will bring nothing but destruction to your empire!”

He raised his right hand and shouted, ”Everyone—come out now!”

Whoosh!

One by one, the members of the Underworld Gate poured out from the gate behind him.

Luke and the soldiers behind him tensed, bracing for every possibility.

When it was over, a hundred people had emerged, filling the sky above the forest.

They all wore black cloaks and unsettling demon masks.

”Hahaha!” The Cardinal of Gluttony laughed heartily. ”What do you think of the troops I’ve brought? Impressive, isn’t it? And this is just the beginning. Soon, the other cardinals will join to unleash a deadly follow-up attack.”

Luke’s body stiffened at his words. His heart pounded, and his grip on his sword tightened.

One cardinal with a hundred subordinates was terrifying enough—more than one could spell total chaos for the capital.

Even with the strength of their empire, such a sudden strike was overwhelming.

Yet Luke did not falter. A golden light erupted from his body and shot into the sky.

”Everyone!” he cried, drawing back his right leg. ”Let’s fight!”

”Attack!”

The soldiers roared in unison, charging forward with fierce determination etched on their faces.

The Cardinal of Gluttony would not be outdone. He lowered his right hand and commanded, ”Everyone, attack!”

”Attack!”

And so, the clash between Luke and his army and the Cardinal of Gluttony and his forces officially began.

***

”It should be here.”

At the edge of the forest, King Maldrin darted from one spot to another, faster than the blink of an eye.

His handsome face radiated a fierce, unyielding killing intent.

”Members of the Underworld Gate... I will not let you escape!” He growled, his voice deep and cold.

Ever since the massacre in the city of Fenrir, he had not slept soundly. The screams of millions haunted him, trapping him in an endless sea of suffering.

That was why he no longer smiled—he had simply forgotten how.

”Their scent is close. I will annihilate them all,” he muttered, murderous intent practically spilling from his body.

Suddenly, he gasped and halted. His gaze snapped to the right, and in a cold, sharp voice he called out, ”Come out—stop hiding like a rat!”

Clap! Clap!

A sound of slow, deliberate clapping echoed from behind a tree, accompanied by a playful voice.

”As expected of King Maldrin—you are truly formidable. Your senses are sharper than ever. Have you grown stronger since last we met?”

A man in a black cloak and a red mask stepped out casually.

King Maldrin scrutinized him carefully, then his eyes widened in realization—the Cardinal of Greed!

”Cardinal of Greed... You finally reveal yourself!” King Maldrin could no longer contain his fury.

A blue aura erupted from his body, bursting outward in all directions and obliterating the trees within a five-meter radius.

The Cardinal of Greed was the man King Maldrin hated most.

Not just because he was a member of the Underworld Gate, but because he was the one responsible for the deaths of millions of his people.

Yet, at that time, King Maldrin had failed to kill him. The man had been like a cockroach, appearing and disappearing at will.

And now, unexpectedly, they would meet again—a long-awaited stroke of luck.

King Maldrin drew his sword from its sheath. He didn’t utter a word and shot forward, faster than lightning.

Slash!

He swung directly at the Cardinal of Greed’s head, only to have the attack blocked effortlessly by two fingers.

”What? How is that possible?” King Maldrin exclaimed in disbelief.

Alas, there was no time to think. The Cardinal of Greed clenched his left palm and struck toward his stomach.

Sensing the danger, King Maldrin yanked his sword from his grip, twisted his body, and slashed at the incoming fist.

The entire sequence took barely two seconds, then...

Bang!

The clash of sword and fist unleashed an explosion that tore through the air.

King Maldrin was hurled five meters into the air, but he twisted mid-flight and landed safely.

The Cardinal of Greed stepped back three meters, the expression behind his mask a mix of surprise and a mocking smile.

”You’ve grown stronger. Have you been training harder since that incident? Or... don’t tell me,” the Cardinal of Greed sneered, rubbing his left fist, ”you trained just to escape the cries of millions lost because of your own negligence?”

Upon hearing this, King Maldrin’s eyes widened, radiating an overwhelming killing intent.

”Don’t you dare speak of them in front of me!”

Whoosh!

In an instant, he vanished and reappeared above the man.

He raised his sword and shouted, ”Divine Technique: Dragon Roar!”

The blade blazed with light, and a five-meter-long blue dragon avatar coiled menacingly above him.

Sensing the danger, the Cardinal of Greed braced himself.

He clenched his left palm, a black aura surging from his fist, and a massive black avatar with razor-sharp fangs and twin horns materialized behind him.

”Think you can defeat me? Hahaha! That’s nothing but a dream!”

With a mocking laugh, he slammed his fist straight toward King Maldrin’s sword.

Boom!