[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-reincarnated-as-an-elf-prince":3,"chapter-reincarnated-as-an-elf-prince-reincarnated-as-an-elf-prince-chapter-262":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Reincarnated as an Elf Prince",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},267227,538,"Chapter 262: Return (4)","reincarnated-as-an-elf-prince-chapter-262",262,"\u003Cp>Then reappeared behind him, again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knee to the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An elbow to the skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hand on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lindarion slammed into the ground again, spine-first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air left his lungs in a wheeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Maeven didn’t say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just stepped over him, foot pressing to his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just... steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really don’t quit,\" Maeven said. \"That’s cute. Sad, but cute.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lindarion didn’t look up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body screamed. His ribs felt shattered. His mana core pulsed faintly, low on fuel, too much burned too fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he clenched his fists again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maeven looked down. \"Still?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lindarion didn’t speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t channel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just whispered something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maeven leaned down. \"What was that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not alone,\" Lindarion muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the air split open beside them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashwing wasn’t small anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His form surged, scales blazing red, wings flaring outward, a roar rising like a tidal wave behind the buildings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maeven spun, but not fast enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashwing struck with his full form, fire and fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The buildings trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maeven vanished into smoke and flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lindarion lay still for a second, gasping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because pain or not, he was still alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashwing dropped beside him, now smaller again. \"You’re a mess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m aware.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You owe me food.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You owe me backup next time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashwing shrugged, tiny shoulders rippling. \"Fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lindarion coughed again. \"He’ll be back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But next time,\" Lindarion said, dragging himself to his feet. \"We’re ready.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashwing looked up at the sky. The red haze was starting to thin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure was fading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But retreating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next time,\" the dragon said. \"We hit first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smoke curled from the edge of the ruined courtyard. Cracked marble. Shattered gates. The sky above the city was a bruised color, still throbbing with the aftershock of that dragon’s roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dythrael stood in the wreckage, coat barely dusted. Not a scrape on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still bored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’That was it? All that buildup for one barely evolved dragon and a half-dead elf?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stretched his arms behind his back, vertebrae clicking in a slow roll. His knuckles were still red from cracking Lindarion through a stone bell tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maeven hadn’t shown up again. Typical. Bastard always vanished the moment things got fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city hadn’t calmed yet. Screams still echoed from alleys. A few soldiers were stumbling around near the edge of the rubble, but none of them dared come close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One figure did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned at the sound, light footsteps, but deliberate. Whoever it was, they weren’t sneaking. They wanted to be heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman stepped into view between two collapsed pillars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just a soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just a knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore the crest of the king’s swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shoulder-length black hair, pulled back in a single clasp. Pale skin. No makeup. No ornaments. Just sharp features, sharper eyes, and a long, clean scar across her left cheek that hadn’t been made for decoration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her armor was light. Mobility-based. But her stance said she didn’t need weight to be dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dythrael tilted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Well. Hello.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t speak right away. Just walked up to the edge of the ruined flagstones and stopped about ten meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could tell from the way she stood, no fear. No bluffing, either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who are you?\" she asked, voice flat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dythrael raised an eyebrow. \"Not a great start.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t flinch. \"This is royal ground. You’re not a guard. You’re not part of the court.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then explain what you are.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dythrael chuckled once, low in his throat. \"People usually ask what I want first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked him over. \"You want something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not from you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shifted her weight, one hand settling near the hilt of her sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’She’s calculating how fast she can get to me if I move. Cute.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t bother hiding the grin. \"You’re one of the king’s blades, right? Lindarion mentioned one of you. Short-tempered. Sharp. I’m guessing that’s you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where is he?\" she asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Busy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took one step forward. Not fast. Just enough to shift the tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Define busy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dythrael smiled wider. \"Breathing. Barely. Last I checked, he was decorating the city walls with pieces of himself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hand tightened slightly. She didn’t draw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she wanted to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could feel it in her mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Interesting.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know you,\" she said finally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dythrael tilted his head. \"I’ve been gone a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From where?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everywhere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence hung too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed. \"Fine. No games. I’m not from your court. I’m not from this kingdom. I’m not on your side, and I’m not here to make friends.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then why are you here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because I was locked away for a very long time,\" Dythrael said. \"And now I’m not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingers didn’t move from the hilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her posture changed, just slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re one of them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded. \"One of what, though? That’s the fun part.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you don’t leave,\" she said, \"I’ll make you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dythrael blinked slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t dramatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a genuine, amused chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re brave,\" he said. \"Braver than most in this city.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her sword didn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes didn’t blink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he saw it now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calculating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Name?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled. \"Come on. I gave you mine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You didn’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" he said. \"But I will.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took one step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My name’s Dythrael,\" he said. \"I’m what your ancestors tried to bury.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She finally shifted her weight, barely a half-inch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised both hands in mock surrender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No blades. Not today. I just wanted to see the capital. Say hi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She still didn’t speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a small bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nice to meet you, King’s Blade.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not with a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like a shadow that decided it didn’t belong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind rushed back into the space where he stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl stared at the empty spot for another long second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she whispered, \"He’s lying....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her hand still stayed near her sword.\u003C\u002Fp>",1010,"2026-05-29T17:03:12.825Z","2026-06-01T04:29:47.183Z",1,"novelbin.me","e440eeef0754ae3f21c8cd48ecf050fb09f42e8088a5575b191e1871dabe550d","reincarnated-as-an-elf-prince-chapter-263","reincarnated-as-an-elf-prince-chapter-261",564,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freincarnated-as-an-elf-prince-cover.jpg"]