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

Chapter 776: A Gift from the Emperor

Rei’s face tensed, his gaze turning sharp as his breathing grew heavier.

Noticing the change, Arnold gave a faint smile.

”Looks like I was right.”

Rei quickly regained his composure. He looked directly into Arnold’s eyes and asked, ”How did you know?”

Arnold could sense the wariness behind that gaze. He calmly waved his hand and replied, ”Don’t worry. I don’t mean to pry. The Dragon Ancestor told me. He said there was someone among the human forces who should never have existed in this world. And one person immediately came to mind—Warrior Evalyn.”

He glanced at Evalyn in the distance with a curious expression. At first, he had doubted the Dragon Ancestor’s words.

It didn’t make sense logically. But since it came from the Dragon Ancestor, Arnold chose to believe it.

And yet, it turned out to be true—Evalyn wasn’t from this world.

Rei’s wariness slowly faded.

”The Dragon Ancestor was right. Evalyn...” He paused for a moment before letting out a long sigh. ”She really isn’t from this world. She came from the future—more precisely, a thousand years ahead.”

Hearing that, Arnold’s eyes widened in shock. Although he already knew Evalyn wasn’t from this world, he hadn’t known exactly where she came from.

Who would have thought? A thousand years in the future.

”Interesting... very interesting!” Arnold murmured, excitement creeping into his voice. ”So time travel is real. I never expected this.”

Rei only gave an awkward smile. He hadn’t believed it at first either. But the facts spoke for themselves.

”Don’t worry. I was just curious and wanted to confirm the Dragon Ancestor’s words. That’s all. I won’t tell anyone,” Arnold assured him.

Rei let out a sigh of relief and nodded slightly.

”Glad to hear that.”

After exchanging a few more words, Rei turned and walked away.

Seeing him approach, Roseline asked curiously, ”What were you two talking about?”

Rei waved his left hand casually.

”Nothing important. He just asked us to be careful and wished us victory in the attack on the capital. That’s all.”

Roseline narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She felt Rei was hiding something, but she had no proof.

”By the way, Evalyn. The next battle will be extremely tough,” Rei said with a serious expression. ”The Demon Emperor is incredibly powerful. Even Lucas and I aren’t confident we can defeat him easily. So, if the situation becomes unstable... leave. Go as far away as possible and don’t show yourself again until you’re returned to your era. Understand?”

He was grateful for Evalyn’s help, but in the end, this war wasn’t her responsibility.

It was his duty, Lucas’s, and everyone else’s in this world.

Evalyn understood his words and gave a small nod.

”I understand. Thank you for the warning.”

Rei and Roseline exchanged glances and smiled.

”Oh, right, I almost forgot. Evalyn, I brought a gift from my father for you.”

Roseline reached into her pocket and pulled out a beautiful blue necklace.

”This necklace is called Solstice. It comes from a remote corner of the northern continent, where eternal snow falls. Legend says that those who wear it will always be protected by the Snow Goddess,” Roseline explained softly. ”At first, my father wanted to give this necklace to me as a birthday present. But I refused and asked him to give it to you instead.”

Evalyn gazed at the necklace in admiration.

”Is that okay, Ancestor? This necklace must mean a lot to you, right?”

”Don’t worry about it. You are my descendant in the future. Eventually, this necklace will end up in your hands anyway. Besides, I did want to give it to you. Come here.”

Evalyn lowered her head. Roseline gently placed the necklace around her neck.

She then stepped back and nodded in satisfaction.

”That looks great! I knew it would suit you!”

Roseline clapped her hands lightly.

Rei, standing beside her, nodded in agreement.

”That’s right. It looks great and suits you perfectly, Evalyn.”

Evalyn lifted the pendant slightly and smiled.

”Thank you, Ancestor. I’ll take good care of this necklace!” she said happily.

Roseline smiled faintly and gave a small nod.

After exchanging a few more words, the three of them prepared to launch an attack on the capital of the Demon Empire within the hour.

...

”Your Majesty, what are your orders?”

Yuria bowed respectfully toward Zerathos.

Zerathos took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.

”What is the latest news from the cities that have been attacked by the human forces?”

Yuria fell silent. She raised her head with a complicated expression.

”All of them... are destroyed, Your Majesty,” she replied heavily. ”The outer and middle ring cities have all fallen into human hands. Only the capital remains. We are surrounded.”

She never wanted to deliver such discouraging news. But there was no choice.

That was the reality. The reinforcements sent from the capital had been completely unable to withstand the human forces’ assault.

In just a week—no, eight days—all the cities belonging to the Demon Empire had fallen.

This was the greatest defeat the demon race had suffered since the Demon Emperor ascended the throne.

Zerathos let out a long sigh. Instead of anger, as Yuria had expected, he asked a question.

”Yuria, do you think this is the beginning of the demon race’s downfall?”

Yuria stiffened. She knew this was no ordinary question. There had to be a deeper meaning behind it.

She quickly composed herself and answered firmly, ”Impossible, Your Majesty! Under your leadership, we are destined to conquer this continent! All living beings will fall to their knees before us!”

Zerathos looked deeply into her eyes and let out a soft chuckle.

”You are right, Yuria.”

He stood up, folded his arms behind his back, and straightened his tall frame.

”I am the Demon Emperor Zerathos! My birth into this world was solely for the purpose of conquering this continent!” he declared proudly. ”Convey my orders to all demon forces. We will launch an all-out assault on the human forces. Let them taste the consequences of offending us!”

Yuria’s eyes sparkled, and she quickly bowed her head.

”As you command, Demon Emperor!”

...

About forty kilometers from the imperial capital, eighty thousand human troops marched in perfect formation.

Cavalry led the front lines, archers followed in the center, and the rear was composed of novice mages up to Sage-level.

Several Celestial-level mages were hidden among them. Their sole task was to deliver a decisive strike against the imperial capital’s fortresses.

On the other side, tens of thousands of dragon troops soared through the sky. They were the forces Arnold had lent to hold back the Demon Empire’s aerial units.

Rei, Roseline, Lucas, and Evalyn stood in the front row.

”Everyone!” Rei called out in a thunderous voice. ”For years, the Demon Empire has asserted its dominance. Humanity has suffered under their rule. Many of our loved ones have fallen. Some were even beheaded and treated as nothing more than playthings.”

The soldiers clenched their fists tightly, as if barely restraining the rage burning within them.

”But not anymore! Today, we will make history—a history that will be remembered for generations to come!” Rei continued, raising his hands high. ”We will bring down the Demon Empire and purge this world of their evil!”

”Bring down the Demon Empire! Purge the world of their evil!”

The soldiers chanted in unison. Their voices roared so loudly that it sent shivers down Evalyn’s spine.

”All right! Now...” Rei stared straight ahead with a wide grin. ”We begin the attack!”