Return Of A Prince

Prince Wei entered the portal after the battle, his body tense and his face shadowed with unease. Back in his room, he grabbed a book from the shelf, flipping through its pages absently. The voices from the battle echoed in his mind, their words relentless.

"Everyone there said I was dead," he muttered, his brow furrowing. "But how? When?" His hand gripped the book tightly before he abruptly set it down, resolve hardening in his eyes.

Summoning his magic, he opened a portal to the next year. Cloaked in invisibility, he stepped through, his expression a mask of calm though his heart pounded in his chest. The city was unchanged, the hum of life comforting yet deceptive. Reaching the castle, he found his room and exhaled in relief upon seeing himself alive.

But his relief was fleeting. Another portal opened to the following year, and as he stepped through, the air felt heavier, the city subdued. His jaw clenched as he reached the castle and found his father gravely ill. His mother's absence struck him like a blow, the news of her death leaving his hands trembling.

At his room, the locked door sent a chill down his spine. Searching the castle, his breath hitched when he found his own lifeless body. His face paled, his fists shaking. Horror etched itself on his features as he stared at his lifeless form, his voice a broken whisper, "I'm dead."

Back in his time, his mind reeled. "I need to know how this happened," he muttered, opening another portal to the days leading to his death.

The war scene was chaos incarnate, the clash of swords and cries deafening. His face hardened as he followed his future self, watching him battle alongside Noxic. His breath caught when Noxic betrayed him, slicing his future self's neck.

Prince Wei's eyes widened in shock, rage flashing across his face. As Noxic attempted to absorb the fallen Prince Wei's powers, streams of light diverted and surged into the present Prince Wei instead. His body trembled as new power coursed through him. Emerging visible, his face was dark with fury. He raised his hand, magic crackling violently.

"You... impostor," Prince Wei spat, his voice ice-cold. "I trusted you, and you betrayed me."

Noxic stumbled back, pleading, "Please, spare me! It was a mistake—"

Prince Wei's eyes glinted with malice as he silenced Noxic with a wave of his hand. "Enough. I don't care for your excuses. You die here."

With a cruel smile, Prince Wei unleashed his magic, slicing Noxic into 59 pieces, his expression unreadable.

Returning to the castle, his triumph turned to despair. The sight of destruction greeted him, his family's bodies strewn amidst the rubble. He fell to his knees, his face contorted with anguish. "No... this can't be..."

Rushing to a dying guard, his voice cracked. "Who did this? Tell me!"

The guard's breath rattled. "It was... the enemy army..." The words faded as the guard succumbed.

Prince Wei's mind reeled. "But I destroyed them all... how?" His voice wavered, confusion mixing with grief.

Standing amidst the ruins, he clenched his fists. "I'll bring them back. No matter the cost." His gaze sharpened. "The Sevpons... they hold the power. I must return to when they first found them."

He opened the portal to the Dimension of Life, his face set in grim determination. The 22nd of April was etched in his memory—a day when Ryu, Jin, Kai, Tony, and Wei defeated Lei. Stepping into the dimly lit cave, Prince Wei's eyes scanned every corner for the Sevpons, his breath shallow with urgency.

"They must be here," he whispered, pacing through the cave. But the Sevpons were nowhere to be found.

Just as frustration tightened his chest, his gaze fell on Lei's body. His eyes narrowed as the lifeless face began to morph, shifting unnaturally until it took on a new, yet hauntingly familiar visage.

"What?" Prince Wei's voice cracked as his eyes widened. "Ju-won?"

The figure stirred, slowly rising to its feet. It was indeed Ju-won, a man Prince Wei had killed in battle long ago. Ju-won's movements were deliberate as he scanned the cave, his expression dark and calculating. Suddenly, he froze, his head snapping toward Prince Wei's direction.

A chilling grin spread across Ju-won's face. "Someone's here," he muttered. He raised a hand, and with a flick of his magic, Prince Wei's invisibility shattered.

Prince Wei stepped back, his pulse racing.

"Prince Wei." Ju-won's voice was calm, yet laced with menace. "Alive and well, it seems. How surprising."

Prince Wei's jaw clenched. "King Ju-won. You don't belong here."

Ju-won's smile grew wider, more sinister. "Neither do you, Prince. Yet here we are. And I suspect we're both here for the same thing."

"That's a lie," Prince Wei snapped, his voice sharp.

Ju-won chuckled darkly, taking a step closer. "Is it? You're here for the Sevpons, aren't you? For your family."

Prince Wei's breath hitched, his expression faltering. "How do you know?"

"Because I am here for the same reason," Ju-won replied, his tone mocking as his eyes gleamed with malice.

Prince Wei shook his head, fists clenching. "I won't let you have them."

Ju-won raised a hand, and a surge of magic enveloped Prince Wei, freezing him in place. Prince Wei struggled, his muscles straining, but Ju-won's magic was too strong.

"Prince Wei," Ju-won said with feigned sympathy. "If we work together, we can have everything we desire. The Sevpons will be ours, and no one will stand in our way."

Prince Wei glared at him, defiance blazing in his eyes. "Never. I won't help you destroy lives."

Ju-won tilted his head, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. "Destroying dimensions is necessary to gain power. But don't worry, Prince. If you won't join me willingly..."

Before Prince Wei could react, Ju-won's magic surged again, his form blending into Prince Wei's body. Prince Wei's screams of resistance echoed through the cave, his magic flaring violently, but Ju-won's will was stronger.

As the merging was completed, Ju-won now controlled Prince Wei's body entirely. Prince Wei's defiance remained trapped inside, his consciousness a prisoner to Ju-won's sinister intent.

In control of Prince Wei's body, Ju-won opened portals to other dimensions, his ambitions spiraling into destruction. Finally, he returned to the Royal Dimension and took Prince Wei's throne, his presence commanding and menacing.

When Prince Ryu returned from the Dimension of Life, his army weary from their battle with Jin's monstrous forces, he entered the castle to find Prince Wei seated on the throne. Prince Ryu paused, his brows furrowing.

"Prince Wei," Prince Ryu said, his voice firm but tinged with confusion. "What are you doing here, Prince? Aren't you supposed to be in your time?"

Prince Wei's eyes glinted coldly as he leaned back on the throne. "I am here to reclaim my family throne," he replied, his voice calm but unsettlingly distant. "Do you have any problem with that?"

Prince Ryu hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly. But after a moment, he knelt before the throne, his tone steady but cautious. "No, I also want you to reclaim your family throne," he said, bowing his head. "My Prince."