Chapter 171: A Winning Plan

Chapter 171: A Winning Plan

Was there anything in the manual that could help us defeat the masters? I asked 288. Hed read it back to front so if there was anything in there that could help, he would know. And now that he had seen the light, maybe even tell me. Hallelujah!

The mention of the manual made the imps beady little eyes gleam. He looked up at me as I leaned over the partitioning wall and said, The Book is the answer to all questions.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

He sounded like a newly baptised religious nut. Just what I needed, a Jehovahs penis.

Thats great but was there anything in the Book I thought it best to sound as reverential about his new bible as him that could help us against the masters?

No, said 288. The masters cannot be defeated.

Well, not with that attitude they couldnt.

What if all the golems were to attack the masters? Could they win?

No, said 288.

Theres only nine of them, I pointed out.

All the war golems together wouldnt be able to defeat one of the masters.

That cant be right, said Maurice. They were knocking each others heads off out there. If they can do that, it means they can be hurt, doesnt it?

The masters do not use their full abilities during the tournament, said 288. The mountain would fall down if they did.

I wasnt sure about this. Cheng hadnt looked like he was holding back during his match, but perhaps he was an exception. If the rest of them had restricted their abilities in some way, it wasnt in how hard they tried to rip each others limbs off.

They must have some kind of weakness, I insisted. If they were infallible, you wouldnt be able to even consider turning against them. What about the Prophecy Machine? Chengs father had mentioned it earlier and it sounded important.

Nothing, said 288, which could have been taken as his usual reticence to say much except that he didnt turn around and bend over.

Youve never heard the masters talk about it before?

288 shook his head.

If you want your freedom, youll need to help us, you do understand that, right? We cant beat them head on, we need to find some kind of weakness. If they have one, you would know it what it was, wouldnt you?

Reading the manual had definitely changed him, but old habits died hard. He was still a slave to his upbringing. Thinking for himself wasnt something that came naturally.

He became motionless, his face completely still. Either he was considering what I had just said, or possibly he was in standby mode. I was about ready to give him a kick up the arse when he snapped back into life.

The only time they are vulnerable is during the welding. They gather in the throne room and exchange energies with the universe. Their bodies become mortal for a short time.

How do you get asked about weaknesses and not mention this titbit of information?

And how do they protect themselves while theyre like this? I couldnt believe they wouldnt take precautions.

They are guarded, said 288.

By whom? I asked.

By the war golems.

There was no nodding, no acceptance of what I was saying. Doubt was all I was seeing.

You know those shows where people audition to be the next pop star? You know how in the first few episodes they showcase all the idiots who cant even hold a note?

Thats mah favourite part, said Flossie, clapping her hands rapidly. At least Id won over one person, even if it was for a retarded reason.

Yeah, well those people thought, Why not, Ive got as much chance as anyone. It might be my big break. Well, thats you lot. Yes, it would be great if you miraculously had the voice of an angel and never knew it, get to sing karaoke on TV, but you dont. I saw Flossie about to object. Im speaking metaphorically. Metaphorically, youre all tone deaf and want to sing at the Albert Hall. Youre living in a fantasy world.

I realised as I said it that you cant really make that accusation when you actually are living in a fantasy world. Why couldnt they just do what I said and complain later when we were all dead? I returned my attention to David and Phil. They were new to my leadership style so would be most likely to object. They needed to understand the situation.

Cheng will help us once we get past this madness, and if he doesnt, then were screwed and theres not much we can do about it. But this is the plan and you will all do as youre told or Im going to tell 288 and his friends that theres a problem and let them take care of it.

I let the meaning of what I was threatening sink in.

Because even though there is a good chance none of this works, its still the best chance weve got. And that doesnt mean I think Im some genius who knows what hes doing. Im not, and I dont. But what I do know is no matter how bad plan this is, its still better than anything you fucking idiots could come up with.

In case you hadn noticed, I was slightly irritated.

Everyone shifted uncomfortably but no one said anything. The atmosphere was awkward to say the least, but how else do you get people used to only thinking about themselves to see the bigger picture? This was clearly our best opportunity to get out of alive. It was also our only opportunity.

And Cheng not having to win wasnt even the best part. Not only did we not have to hope Cheng could pull off some Hollywood ending, we didnt have to fight the masters, either. The golems would take care of it.

So what if we didnt win the tournament? So what if we sat back and let others do the fighting? That wasnt a negative, that was brilliant. The samurai who never draws his sword is fucking cool.

All we had to do was stay alive until it was all over.

Shit.

I looked back down at 288. When will the final fight take place?

This evening, he said.

And after that, the welding ceremony or whatever it is, does it take place straight afterwards.

Yes.

And what about all the people? What happens to them?

288 looked up at me, his features a little drawn into his face. People?

The humans, the ones out there. And us. What happens to the people?

288 nodded. You will be used as part of the welding.

Used? Used how?

You will be consumed.

The other thing Chengs victory would have given us was a pass on the whole being consumed thing. Without his protection, how would we avoid getting eaten by the masters?

So close, and yet