Chapter 34: EXECUTED
<hr>
The whole situation stunk like a double-cross.
Today, the Shogun would make an example of me—an execution designed not just to end my life but to send a message to anyone who dared challenge his rule. And God knows what the Emperor faction was planning.
There was also the distinct possibility that I no longer represented any strategic value to the Ninja. I hadn’t heard a word about the plan—not that they could have contacted me over the past ten days, even if they wanted to. But if there was, in fact, a plan to save me and strike the Shogun, they sure were taking their sweet-ass time getting around to it.
But I wasn’t about to leave my fate to anybody, even the Ninja faction. If push came to shove, I’d take matters into my own hands.
“The Lord Shogun commands your presence,” a guard announced as he and three others entered the room. They secured iron shackles around my wrists and ankles. Earlier, attendants had offered me a white ceremonial kimono and a bath, a final gesture before they chopped off my head.
I refused.
As we made our way to the ceremonial execution grounds, burning incense wafted through the air, accompanied by distant chanting—a reminder of my time at Thunder Temple. As anticipated, the Shogun chose a public execution.
The courtyard was the size of a professional soccer field, with a platform in the center. It was a simple yet imposing structure of dark wood polished to a dull sheen. A white mat lay in the center, marking where I would kneel. Nearby, my executioner, a giant Samurai, stood with a sheathed katana.
The crowd fell into a hush as I was forced to my knees on the mat. Conversations died out, and all eyes turned toward me, filled with curiosity, fear, and morbid fascination. To some, I was a criminal and an enemy, deserving the fate awaiting me. To others, I was a political pawn, about to suffer injustice at the hands of an oppressive regime.
My favorite herald stepped forward to address the crowd. Reading from a scroll, his nasal voice struggled to carry over the masses as he began to speak.
“By decree of the Lord Shogun, Ember, an enemy of the state, you are hereby sentenced to death for your crimes. Let this execution serve as a reminder to all who dare challenge our Lord Shogun’s authority. May your fate be a lesson to those who harbor thoughts of rebellion.”
Across the courtyard, the Shogun sat on a raised platform, surrounded by his consorts and guards. Above him, archers, with bows drawn, lined the rooftops. At least another hundred fully armored Samurai stood on ramparts and the ground. That’s a lot of security.
I scanned the crowd for familiar faces and found none at first. But before I blinked into the Jingozi arena to see more, I spotted a small elven child with blonde curls a few rows deep. When we made eye contact, she raised a baseball-sized green stone—a nexus stone.
My pulse quickened. So, there is a plan.
“Does the condemned have any last words or prayers?”
Oh, you bet your fast ass I do, you piece of shit.
A voice rang out from the crowd.
“I wish to address our Lord Shogun and the court!”
Name: Ryuunosuke [Divine Dealer]
Tier: II [Bronze] Rank 1
Faction: Samurai [Warrior]
I barely recognized him, and it looked like he''d lost some of his tier ranks. Ryuunosuke was dressed in commoner attire, with a cast encasing his right arm and a splint supporting his left leg. Bloody bandages wrapped his head and covered his left eye. Now tangled and matted, his once-perfect hair draped a marred face with bruises and scratches.
The wounded Samurai hobbled onto the stage.
“My Lord, you have refused an audience with me since my return,” he addressed the crowd more than the Shogun. “I have no choice but to seek a public appeal.”
The herald, fidgeting like he’d just been given a wedgie, glanced toward the Shogun. With a nod from the faction leader, the herald retreated. Ryuunosuke stepped between the executioner and me.
“This woman is no criminal. She is a Jingozi dealer!”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“But she is also a defector. After brokering an arrangement with the Samurai, she planned to escape the North. That’s when the Golem ambushed our convoy, and everything was lost. Knowing who she was, I entrusted her with delivering the scroll to you, my Lord. I gave her my token, believing it was my honor to sacrifice my life for our cause... your cause, my Lord.”
The crowd erupted into a chorus of protests, their agitation growing.
“Silence!” the Shogun’s voice thundered. He waited until you could hear a pin drop.
“Ryuunosuke, you have served our faction honorably and survived in the face of certain death. For that, you have my undying gratitude. But I cannot trust you. How can I when it is abundantly clear you have been so tempted and corrupted by this… temptress, sent from the North? Your wounds and suffering have blinded you from the truth. Take him away to rest and proceed with the execution.”
Ryuunosuke fell to his knees before me, bowing his head to his hands.
“I’m sorry, Ember.”
“Ryuunosuke, where’s Hiro? Tell me he made it.”
He looked up in despair as two guards dragged him off.
“He did… as I promised,” he cried. “But the Shogun took him… executed… forgive me.”
***
They did it. They broke me.
I knelt on the swirling black floor of the Jingozi arena. My face was swollen from hours of sobbing, and time had lost all meaning in the dark, infinite space where grief consumed me. I couldn’t stop thinking about Hiro—his innocence and, now, his death.
The voice was nowhere to be found.
My heart was torn apart as I crawled forward, my gaze fixed on the reflection of Tokugawa Masamune, the Shogun. I hated him. Zooming in on his face, I fixated on the one I had despised the most since my arrival.
Something was off. His mouth was slack, and his eyes were rolled into the back of his head like he was possessed. I scanned those beside him—they were oblivious.
Wait, what is that?
I almost missed the three Jingozi from the exhibition, obscured by shadows behind the Shogun. The Shogun and his entourage would’ve been completely unaware of their presence. But why were they there? They definitely weren’t watching my execution.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
The Jingozi defector.
If the Jingozi knew the Samurai faction was harboring a traitor, they’d be more than motivated to intervene somehow. That must’ve been why they sanctioned the exhibition in the first place. But what were they waiting for? Or was this the opportunity the Ninja faction was planning?
I furiously cycled my deck until I found the three cards I wanted.
Hand: [0/5] [Poison Strike] [Evolve]
I had an idea for a combo attack. I drew the [0/5].
SPELL CARD IS AVAILABLE
Evolve
<ul>
<li>
PVP/PVE: Increase any 0 on your card by +1 for every Zii paid.
</li>
</ul>
Poison Strike
<ul>
<li>
PVP: Pay 1 Zii to plus +1 attack/risk or defend/reward (maximum +3).
</li>
</ul>
Casting [Evolve] on my [0/3], I used 87 Zii to boost the risk score, making it a [87/0] attack. And since the Jingozi arena put me in PVP mode, I could cast [Poison Strike], which allowed me to buff it to a [90/3]. I also hoped for some PVE poison effect, but I wouldn''t know unless I tried it.
If that wasn''t enough to kill him in a surprise attack, I don’t know what would. If I got the shot off, my Zii would be dangerously low—a risk I was willing to take. But I left myself 10 Zii just in case.
It was just a matter of studying the layout and making the right plan. I was going to take my time on this one.
***
Using the Jingozi’s line of sight, I blinked back to the courtyard directly behind the Shogun.
Cocking my arm to jam the card into the back of the Shogun''s head, I saw a new notification.
MULTIPLIER AVAILABLE: MAXIMUM [2] ZII
Your Zii multiplier is based on your tier.
I tried it and infused 2 Zii into the card. This confirmed my suspicions, and my battle card became a [180/6].
<ul>
<li>
Zii: 8/100
</li>
<li>
Cards [15/16]
</li>
<li>
[Error]: 6/8
</li>
</ul>
Before I let it fly, the Shogun suddenly slumped forward on his stool. His left eye exploded into crimson mist as something burrowed into the back of his head with a sickening squelch. His body convulsed and then flopped onto the floor.
A consort, now spattered in blood, turned and saw the seizing Shogun on the ground. Her wide eyes locked onto me next, with a scream tearing from her throat.
Name: Overlord Edric [Arch Dealer]
Tier: VII [Obsidian] Rank ???
Faction: Emperor [Overlord]
I didn’t need the status notification to know in my gut the Emperor was there—somewhere.
“Edric,” I hissed.
AUTO DODGE: SUCCESSFUL
Card: [4/4] 100%
A guard lunged forward, attempting to spear me with his polearm. It took me a split second to realize that my [4/4] battle card gave me a 100% chance to auto-dodge the attack. The card cycled to the bottom of my deck.
So, that''s how my dodge card works.
I ducked and spun as the blade thrust over my head. Completing the evasive maneuver, guards dove onto the Shogun’s body.
“Protect the Shogun!” someone shouted.
I blinked out.
After catching my breath in the Jingozi arena, I spied only four places to blink to next. The first was back to the platform with the executioner and three guards. The second was into the panicked crowd, risking innocent lives. The third was a rampart, where more guards were too close for comfort. On top of it all, I was still shackled.
I took my chances and blinked back to the platform. Upon seeing me, the executioner and two guards drew their swords.
Five Jingozi cards whistled through the air. The first two sliced the chains between my wrists and ankles. The third and fourth struck the two guards, exploding on impact to send them tumbling off the back of the platform. The final card found the gap between the executioner’s helmet and chest plate before evaporating into a red puff of smoke. He fell to his knees, clutching his neck to stop the blood streaming through his fingers.
Nice shots, Sora.
The crowd had erupted into chaos. People stampeded in all directions, some cowering and falling to the ground, only to be trampled, while others stood frozen in bewilderment.
AUTO DODGE: SUCCESSFUL
Card: [3/5] 60%
I tilted my head just in time to dodge an arrow as another volley rained onto the platform.
AUTO DODGE: FAIL
Card: [3/4] 75%
I braced for the hit, but something deflected the shot at the last moment. Cragmarr''s forearm came into view as he appeared out of nowhere. He wrapped his arms around me, turning to form a body shield as arrows shattered against his rocky back. Kitty was nestled between us, curled into a silver armored ball.
“Nice save, Crag," I said. "Am I ever glad to see you both!"
Cragmarr grunted an acknowledgment as more help arrived.
Ninjas appeared on the wall behind the archers, and in a flurry, the first Samurai fell, their throats slit. Other Ninjas in red moved like wraiths, shuriken flashing as they cut down the other guards stationed on the walls. Screams filled the air from the crowd, scattering to avoid the onslaught.
The Samurai on the ground rallied, forming a defensive perimeter around the platform. But the Ninjas were relentless, their attacks coming from every direction. Multiple smoke bombs exploded amid the Samurai ranks, and more guards fell, their armor clattering to the ground. Pockets of skirmishes broke out around me, the Ninjas everywhere, their movements too fast to follow.
Two masked figures intercepted a Samurai leaping onto the platform towards us. They moved as one, their coordination flawless, each strike timed to complement the other. I recognized their styles—Hikari and Kaito. Hikari’s katana deflected a Samurai’s blow while Kaito darted in low, cutting the Samurai’s legs out from under him.
“Ember, we’re getting you out of here!” Hikari shouted.
“Follow us!” Kaito ordered. “And stay close!”
“Go,” Cragmarr said. “I will cover you.”
Kitty leaped onto my shoulders, wrapping me with her tail in time to deflect an arrow. Cragmarr loaded a Jingozi card and transformed into a hulking, four-armed giant. He grabbed a guard and swung the body like a mace, clearing a path through the courtyard.
The Ninja twins and I moved as a unit, Hikari and Kaito flanking me on either side as we pushed through the melee. The courtyard was a whirlwind of violence—Samurai clashing with Ninjas, steel ringing against steel, bodies falling to the ground.
A Ninja vaulted over a group of Samurai, crippling them with quick strikes before vanishing into a crowd of fleeing bystanders. A Samurai fell to his knees, blood pouring from a broken blade lodged in his temple. Another fought desperately to fend off an attacker before Sora struck with a fire shot, engulfing him in flames.
But the Shogun’s forces were relentless. As we neared the courtyard''s boundary, more Samurai poured in from the palace, their ranks mounting as they pressed the attack. The Ninjas fought back with everything, but the sheer force took its toll. Gradually, they succumbed to the superior numbers.
As I swung the chains of my shackles like whips, I saw the exhaustion in Hikari’s eyes and the strain in Kaito’s movements. I used a combination of melee-range blinking to launch surprise attacks. A regular Samurai was no match for us alone, but with reinforcements joining the fray, the odds were stacked against us.
I also started to wane. Jumping in and out of the Jingozi arena with low Zii made my head spin. More guards cut off our escape. I fought the instinct to blink away, which would abandon my friends.
“We’re getting overwhelmed!” Kaito blocked a sword strike. “Find another way out!”
“I’m trying!” Hikari’s breath came in ragged gasps.
Cragmarr cannonballed into the crowd before us, crashing down with a thunderous impact, sending Samurai flying in all directions. He slammed his hands together onto a battle card, creating a sonic boom, knocking down guards like bowling pins. With every blade glancing off his body, he grew bigger.
“This way!” Hikari motioned toward a narrow corridor.
Intercepting us, a giant cloud of smoke swirled and solidified into a ten-foot Samurai. Its enchanted armor blazed with a fiery glow, and it wielded a polearm crackling with lightning. It was Ryuunosuke''s champion.
“You betrayed us!” Ryuunosuke screamed from behind the monster Samurai.
“Ryuunosuke,” I shouted. “Listen to me! You don''t want to do this!”
My mind was too foggy to catch Hikari sprinting along the wall with her blade aimed at Ryuunosuke’s head. The Samurai champion stepped in the way with blinding speed, impaling her against the wall with its polearm. The tip of her katana fell short of finding its mark—less than an inch away.
“Hikari!” Kaito and I screamed.
Time slowed. Hikari''s body went limp. My rage peaked as I released the combo attack intended for the Shogun.
As it left my hand, the [180/6] battle card transformed into a stream of acid-green flames. The spray hit the champion''s chest, eating through the enchanted armor like paper. The green fire spread while the acid melted away layers of magical steel and whatever lay beneath.
The champion''s polearm clattered to the ground as its arms began dissolving. It stumbled backward. A horrific screech filled the air—not quite human, not quite metal—as the green flames consumed what remained.
The champion''s core destabilized, expanding like a balloon as magic and acid reacted violently.
The explosion rocked the courtyard. A wave of force and heat knocked everyone off their feet, shattering weapons and cracking stones. Bodies went flying in all directions. The sound was deafening—a thunderous boom followed by the tinkling of broken metal raining down. A corrosive stench filled the air.
I landed with a crack. Something snapped inside my back, and a high-pitched ringing replaced my hearing.
When the dust settled, a smoking crater marked where the champion had stood. The acid-green flames still burned around the edges, casting a radioactive glow across the devastation.
Somehow, Ryuunosuke survived. Stumbling from behind a pillar, he picked up a broken sword and wailed, "Ember!"
Four Ninjas streaked toward Ryuunosuke through the haze in a red blur. They drove battle cards into his stomach and jerked them upward, disemboweling him in a single motion. The four merged into one—Sora. Without missing a beat, she threw four smoke bombs, shrouding the area in a thick, blinding fog. Cragmarr hoisted me over one shoulder as I reached out for Hikari’s charred, lifeless body in my fading moments.
Hikari…