Book Three Chapter Eighty Seven: Evil Emperor Begin

Book Three Chapter Eighty Seven: Evil Emperor Begin

If you want to try and persuade him, then knock yourself out, the Chosen One said to Definitely Bad Guy. Which is an expression. I dont actually mean knock yourself out, he hurriedly explained.

Qube nodded, grateful for the clarification.

Once again the Chosen One waved his hand through the Save Point, and once again the party threw open the giant double doors that led to the throne room. Once again, Qube felt a strong compulsion to walk towards the throne. Although it felt like it wasnt the throne itself. Somewhere behind it, perhaps?

Regardless, she was almost able to stop herself from taking that fateful step forward. Alas, her body betrayed her, and she found herself stepping forward, causing the purple lights to once again spring into existence, the room to once again illuminate the imposing figure on the throne, and his flock of gem-seeking chickens.

This time, however, it was the former advisor to the Evil Emperor who stepped forward.Follow current novels at novelhall.com)

My liege, Definitely Bad Guy said. Only the trembling of his long fingers betrayed his nervousness at facing down the man whod cursed him. Depending on how one chose to interpret what had happened in the Time Temple, the Evil Emperor might have also been fated to kill Definitely Bad Guy.

The Devs, however, had clearly seen fit to resurrect Definitely Bad Guy. Why else would two strange versions of him spring into existence? While Qube didnt claim to be an expert in storytelling, even she could tell that meant the Devs had wanted him around.

They hadnt bothered reviving her though. No Evil and Good versions of Qube had greeted the Chosen One when he left the village, or shown up in any of the Temples. Oh, no. The Devs had been perfectly content to slay her, and leave her to rot in pieces. After all, that was tradition.

Not that she was bitter.

Much.

Her inner self surged at her totally-hypothetical bitterness, and Qube had to bite her lip to stop herself from crying out. Her inner self was strong, stronger than it had ever been before. It was almost a physical presence inside her, and for a moment itd threatened to completely overwhelm her.

Only her hard-won experience in dealing with anger and sadness saved her, allowing her to hold against the wave of emotion, and stop it from drowning her.

I come to you, my liege, not just as a formerly loyal subject, but as your Mage Advisor. Definitely Bad Guy, bravely controlling whatever emotions were roiling within him at facing his once master, maybe murderer, gave a shallow bow to the throne.

The world is not what we thought it to be. As you have sought to subjugate the world to your whims, and force it into a path of your choosing, so too have we all been subjugated to a higher power. Beings known only as the Devs have ruled over us from another realm, and have at their fingertips powers almost impossible to comprehend. Our entire existence was created by them, and can be snuffed out on a whim.

The Mage took a few steps closer. More lights sprang into being, and the Evil Emperor continued to look straight ahead. It was impossible to tell if those black eyes were watching the red and blue man before him, or staring into nothingness.

Definitely Bad Guy was trembling. Only a little, and it wouldnt have been noticeable to anyone not paying the closest attention to him. But Qube was watching him. She was watching him do something that only she knew the cost of: facing down your killer.

Fortunately, certain members of our party have caught their attention, and we have been offered the opportunity to ascend to their realm, and exist amongst them. They expect us to defeat you, but I propose an alternative.

Definitely Bad Guy extended a hand to the Evil Emperor.

Join us. Ascend at our side, and together we can learn the secrets of the Devs, and discover how to harness their power. You sought to rule over a kingdom. But we could learn so much more. The knowledge of how to make worlds would be at our fingertips, sire.

Qube had never heard the Mage sound so passionate before! Hed stopped shaking, and took another step forward, hand still outstretched towards the man whod condemned him as a traitor.

A man hed been made to serve by forces beyond his control.

Now the Mage was almost at the tyrants side.

Leave this kingdom, sire, and we can grasp the power of the universe.

The Evil Emperor stood up, disrupting the chickens roosting on him. Definitely Bad Guy kept his hand outstretched, so close he could almost touch the tyrants armour. The former master towered over the traitor.

You arent her, the ruler said, in the same, painfully gravelly voice as before.

Now Sencha Bard stepped forward, his voice dropping until it was almost a growl.

Every wrong in your life was designed to push you further down a path of their choosing. Every doubt you suppressed was on their command. Everything you thought was you, everything that you are, has been nothing but an unwitting performance for those who dont even see you as human.

Another step, and then the Bard was within reach. The Evil Emperor ignored him, continuing to stare at Qube. There was the sound of metal grinding against metal as his gauntlets curled into fists.

But Sencha Bard wasnt done yet.

You have before you the one person capable of defying the gods plans. The one person who can rip the reins from their hands and force them to dance to our tune. Follow her, and you will have your revenge on those who made you into the twisted creature you are. Allow her to walk before you, and she will cleave a path of carnage through their notions of power.

Sencha Bard reached out, not in supplication or an urge for acceptance, but rather his hand reaching to grasp the jewelled gauntlet.

Throw away their tokens, kneel to her, and know what it is to watch gods tremble in fear.

The Evil Emperor abruptly stood up, snatching his gauntleted fist out of reach of the Bard.

Qube didnt know what to say. Part of her wanted to interrupt Sencha Bard, and point out that she wasnt going to be cleaving a path through anything, and all that stuff about revenge was well, she wanted revenge against the Evil Emperor, she wasnt about to go around getting revenge for him!

But she saw how Sencha Bards hand tracked the moving gauntlet, and she realised that all this had to have been a ploy to get close enough to the Evil Emperor for the Rogue to try and steal the gems.

But he was too slow. The sword had already appeared in the Evil Emperors hand. The gems, only just out of reach, glowed.

The Evil Emperor started to speak.

Youre not

The Chosen One instantly acted. [Save Scum Attack]! he cast, and the world once again rolled back time.

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Qube was silent as they reappeared by the Save Point. The Chosen One, however, immediately reached out and grabbed Sencha Bard, seconds before the man could throw open the doors.

Easy, Sing-Song, he said. It didnt work.

What? Sencha Bard looked utterly shocked. But hes a tyrant! How could a call to his rage not drive him into a frenzy? Or was he so consumed by anger that he lashed out at us?

Just didnt work, the Hero said shortly.

He hadnt told any of them what the Evil Emperor had said, just before attempting to slay her friends.

Qube bit her lip. Hard.

Its me, she said in a quiet voice. I need to talk to him. I dont know why, but he keeps getting mad that hes not talking to me.

She glanced at the Chosen One, who looked like he wanted to protest. But instead of saying anything, he once again flicked his hand through the Save Point, then silently nodded at her.

Round four, he said quietly.

Taking a deep breath, Qube stepped forward, and pushed open the throne room doors.