Chapter 16 - The Unwanted Successor 

The South Continent of Yunatea. In the western part of this continent lay the Dissidia Kingdom, the region where Broken had begun his journey. Its bustling port city was advanced and prosperous, providing the Dissidia Kingdom with a significant edge over other kingdoms in the area.

The kingdom was known for its organized government, which provided a stable economy for adventurers seeking a comfortable yet adventurous life. The difficulty of monsters in the kingdom was relatively low, making it an ideal starting point for new players in Immortal Legacy. The kingdom was a favorite among players, thanks to its predominantly human population and peaceful environment.

Before the King's throne, a young woman stood, clad in black knight's attire with gleaming silver armor.

"Your Majesty, the attacks from players are escalating, and citizens of the Dissidia Kingdom are being killed. I will lead our troops to sweep the kingdom and capture these troublemakers."

The woman, standing at 172 cm (5'8"), had red hair that flowed over her silver robe. But what made her truly unique were her pointed ears, a clear indication that she was not human.

This was Alora Rogwyn, the Princess of Dissidia Kingdom. Despite her royal title, she was more comfortable with the ways of war, much like the Imperial Knights, than the luxurious lifestyle of a princess. She was always at the forefront of battle, ready to defend her kingdom.

Alora was also the Crowned Princess of the Dissidia Kingdom. Her dual role as the Crowned Princess and knight reflected the cultural heritage of the Dissidia Kingdom, where all leaders who held the crown were formidable warriors. In the past, one of the kings had been a Champion of Sloth, receiving the blessing from the Goddess of Sloth.

Recently, the activity of a mysterious organization, the Cult of the Darkened Flame, had been on the rise within the royal court of Dissidia Kingdom. These followers of demons were attempting to spread their beliefs among the kingdom's people and had even recruited players to join their cause.

Until now, the royals had dealt with these disturbances with relative ease, usually by exterminating the cultists. However, the players presented a unique challenge—they were seemingly immortal beings, capable of reviving each time they were killed, allowing them to grow in number and power unnaturally.

"My dear daughter, Princess Alora," the King said. "We must be vigilant. Players are unpredictable, and they can draw strength from many different regions of Yunatea in a manner that is difficult to anticipate. It is particularly worrying if they join the Cult of the Darkened Flame."

"Your Majesty," Alora responded. "If they recruit players to join them, then we need to do the same. We have been worried about this for a long time."

The royal family of Dissidia Kingdom was highly protective of the kingdom's position, particularly when it came to players. Players were known for their hedonistic tendencies, visiting the kingdom only for the purpose of having fun, slaying monsters, and doing as they pleased.

They often acted rudely towards natives, had no loyalty to the kingdom, and were even more arrogant due to their ability to grow abnormally strong and immortal in the sense that they could revive themselves no matter how many times they died.

"Princess Alora..." the King intoned. "I hereby entrust you with this task. You have my full permission to lead two Knight Commanders, twenty Knights, and hundreds of royal troops to accomplish this mission. Make sure that those players comprehend the consequences of disregarding the regulations if they wish to stay in this kingdom."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not fail you. The citizens of Dissidia Kingdom will be protected."

As Alora turned, her long red hair, tied in a braid along her waist, moved momentarily, revealing the edges of her face. It was clear she was different from the other people in the room; her pointed ears gave her away. Alora was indeed a princess of the Dissidia Kingdom, a human kingdom, but she wasn't a pure human. She was half-human, half-elf.

As Alora exited the throne room, whispers followed her, revealing the disdain many within the royal court held for her. Much of this animosity stemmed from the schemes of the King's younger brother, who was rumored to be plotting to remove the Princess and claim the crown for himself.

"A Half-Elf daring to become a Crowned Princess in a Human Kingdom?"

"Does she think she can lead this Kingdom?"

"Our pride as a Kingdom once ruled by the Champion of Sloth will soon crumble. Why must the Crowned Princess be a Half-Elf?"

"It's disgusting. I hope the King remarries soon and produces a more fitting heir."

"I don't believe she deserves to be the Crowned Princess."

Princess Alora was accustomed to hearing such disparaging remarks aimed at her. She was the legitimate Crowned Princess, and she would prove herself through her hard work and determination.

Alora had trained rigorously to become a Knight, not without reason. She aimed to demonstrate that she could be a leader who did not just sit on the throne and give orders. She intended to embody the legacy of their predecessors, kings who led in battle and commanded respect on the front lines.

She was born to fight on the battlefield. 

At only nineteen years old, her level had already surpassed 200, a testament to her dedication and skill.

"Your Highness, we are ready to depart at your command," said one of the Knights.

"All right, let's go," she replied with a confident smile.

**

[You have killed JackyChwan Lv. 69]

[Player JackyChwan dropped an item.]

[You have acquired a pair of +7 Mage Stride Boots.]

[+7 Mage Stride Boots]

[Grade: Rare]

[Intelligence +11

Agility +11]

[Durability: 78/100]

[Weight: 95]

[Skills:]

[Mystic Evasion: Grants the user the ability to swiftly move up to three meters and evade incoming attacks

Mana Cost: 50

Cooldown: 10 Seconds]

[User Restriction: Level 50 or Higher

A Mage Class]

Broken smiled broadly, having finally achieved his goal of killing one of the six player killers. Despite the high stakes, he succeeded and even managed to acquire a dropped item from his victim. To his surprise, it was a Rare grade.

The boots were Mage Boots, but they had a unique dash skill, quite unusual for a mage. This skill would certainly be useful to him. Additionally, the boots had Intelligence and Agility stats. 

It was a significant victory, but he couldn't afford to bask in his success for long; the threat of the remaining player killers still loomed. 

"Let's go, Polly. We need to get out of here," he said urgently.

He leaped onto Polly's back, and she immediately sprinted away.

But to his surprise, the player killers were relentless, chasing him down without pause. Soon, he found himself surrounded, arrows, swords, greatswords, and spears all pointed at him from every angle. 

"This is a dire situation," he muttered under his breath.

"You can't run forever, Broken," one of them sneered. "We'll get you eventually."