Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part Two]

CHAPTER 238: Royal Dominion - Reneal's Ascension

Weapons slammed against shields. Chants of the prince's name filled the air like a war drum. The boy stood at the center of it all—his presence radiant, undeniable.

Stynx watched from a distance, mouth agape, fury boiling under his skin. The true heir of the royal family had stolen his thunder, his spotlight, his moment. But he couldn't look away.

"With me!" Reneal roared, pointing the saber toward the nearest Floor Guardian—a hulking goat-like creature that walked upright and wielded a crude spear. "Together we fight! Together we protect all that we cherish!"

Then he charged.

DING!

[The active skill «Sovereign Tempo» has been acquired.]

[Sovereign Tempo]

[Rank: Unique

Classification: Active Skill

Lvl: 1

Proficiency: 0%

In moments where hesitation spells defeat, a true ruler bends time to their will. By invoking ancient authority and channeling mana through their royal bloodline, the user enters a heightened state where thought, reflex, and movement synchronize perfectly.

Skill Effect:

▪︎ Greatly enhances reaction speed and reflexes, enabling simultaneous offense and defense.

▪︎ Attack Damage +300%

▪︎ Attack Speed +250%

▪︎ Parry and Dodge Rate +200%

▪︎ Grants temporary immunity to the «Stagger» and «Slow» status effects during activation.

Mana Cost: 0.9% ⅌ Second

Cooldown: 8 Minutes]

Time slowed.

Thought and instinct merged.

The prince's body moved with supernatural grace—each step perfectly timed, each breath measured.

The Floor Guardian lunged, its weapon tracing a deadly arc of light. Reneal leaned just out of reach, the attack grazing nothing but light. In a single motion, he pivoted, blade carving upward through the monster's ribbed underbelly. Sparks flew as its hide cracked, thick crimson blood spewing into the air.

The creature shrieked and reeled back—but Reneal didn't give it a chance to rebound. He stepped forward, a dance of fury and elegance, the saber a blur in his hands. Each strike struck true, every dodge calculated to the millisecond. His inexperience vanished, masked by Sovereign Tempo. He seemed untouchable.

The Floor Guardian roared again, charging blindly, but it was far too slow. Reneal rolled beneath its jaws, brought the saber up, and with a triumphant cry, slashed through its neck in a searing arc of silver light.

The beast fell with a crash.

The battlefield went still for a moment.

Then cheers erupted.

But Reneal wasn't done.

He turned toward another group of soldiers being overwhelmed by a towering brute. Its claws had nearly pinned them to the wall until the prince leapt in from the side and drove his blade through its temple. It convulsed and collapsed. The soldiers stared at him like he was a god.

Reneal darted back toward the children. To the girl who looked like Lumielle. He knelt beside her, voice gentle and steady. "I'm here," he whispered, resting a hand on her head. "I'll protect you. I promise."