Chapter 62: PROPHET


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    Cragmarr once explained that Golems of this size were called Primals, like the one in the pond during the fishing tutorial. Bigger meant more power and unpredictability. However, as the class name implied, I didn''t know whether they were intelligent or driven purely by nature.


    I blinked into the Jingozi arena, leaving my physical body beside Kyra in the boat. The three water Golem forms shimmered in the floor''s reflection, their burning orange eyes visible through the black expanse.


    "Why do you serve the Emperor faction?" I projected the thought toward them.


    "We do not serve the Emperor," their response emanated as a collective whisper, like waves lapping at a shore. "We are bound to the Amazon Queen through ancient pacts."


    "But you power their ships, fight their battles—"


    "The alliance requires our service. The Amazons trade our power to the Emperor''s fleet. We have no choice in this matter."


    Images flashed through my mind—hundreds of water golems, chained by magical bindings to massive vessels, their essence being drained to fuel the Emperor''s war machines. The pain and exhaustion in their memories made my chest ache.


    "How long have you been enslaved like this?"


    "Since the Jingozi arrived and awakened us, the first Amazon Queen made the pact using her magic. We are bound by elements and Zii to obey. Generation after generation, we are destined to serve."


    "So, Queen Zenobia sent you?"


    "No, we were summoned by Kyra, daughter of the queen."


    Their words sparked an idea. If Queen Zenobia controlled them through some ancient agreement, perhaps there was a way to break it. Or at least use it to my advantage.


    I blinked back to my body in the boat, facing Queen Zenobia''s watery apparition. The water Golems'' revelation had given me a new perspective.


    "You dare…" the water statue bubbled.


    "I''ll return Kyra to you," I said, gesturing to her body. "In exchange, you command your water Golems to sink the Emperor faction’s fleet."


    “I am not surprised you draw the ire of more than one faction, girl,” Zenobia''s laughter rippled across the waves. "Why would I risk our alliance with the Emperor faction for you, outsider?"


    "Because the Jingozi and Overlord Edric are working together." I leaned forward, meeting her translucent gaze. "They''re kidnapping children and sacrificing them for necromagic. They infiltrated the Shogun''s ranks, and now he''s a hostage. Lance almost killed Kyra coming after me. What makes you think the Amazons are safe?"


    "Lance the Lightslayer?"


    "Kyra brought him along on this little bounty hunt."


    The water statue paused, shimmering in thought.


    "You didn''t know…" I said.


    "Kyra has always been… independent in her action. But her follies aside, the Emperor faction has honored our agreements—"


    "For now. But Edric is becoming a Necrolord. Now that the South is no longer a threat, what stops him from turning on you? The Jingozi, you think they''re your saviors, but they''ve done nothing. They''re behind everything."


    Zenobia''s form pulsed.


    "You speak of defeating both the Jingozi and Overlord Edric, child. Such a thing is impossible."


    I reached into my inventory and pulled out the Jingozi mask trophy. The metallic surface caught the lightning flickering in the sky.


    "I''ve already killed one. I will kill more."


    The water around our boat went still. Zenobia''s rippling form leaned closer, examining the mask. After a long moment, she straightened.


    "It seems we underestimate you yet again, Ninja. But what if you fail?"


    "Then I''ll be dead anyway, and it won''t be my problem. It''ll be yours."


    "And if you succeed? What stops you from betraying us like Edric?"


    "Lance has a Jingozi contract for my life. Take it and give it to Kyra. I''m sure you can figure out a way to kill me then."


    The water statue nodded after a brief pause.


    "Very well," she said. "Release my daughter, and I will give the command. But know this—if you fail to defeat them as you claim and live, the Amazons will hunt you to the ends of every dimension."


    "I understand." I nodded toward the unconscious Kyra. "She needs help. The reforging broke something in her mind."


    "That is not my problem, child," Zenobia''s form began to dissipate. "But I would pray that it does not become yours."


    I knelt beside Kyra and brushed aside some wet hair from her face. If everything worked out, it would be the last time I saw her.


    "Kyra, your mom is a real piece of work," I kissed her forehead. "But I think you already know that."


    I bounced out of the boat, my feet hitting the water''s surface. The energy of my water walker ability flowed through me as I sprinted across the waves.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Over my shoulder, a gigantic black cloud materialized above Lance''s flagship. The darkness spread like spilled ink across the sky, crackling with purple lightning. Four enormous water columns rose from the sea, twisting like serpents.


    A whirlpool formed beneath the armored vessel and gained speed. The ship began to spin, and its hull creaked under the strain, even from a distance. Soldiers scrambled across the deck like ants, with the howling wind carrying away their screams.


    A massive wave rose behind me, its crest towering thirty feet high. Instead of running, I turned and crouched, channeling Zii into a Jingozi card. As the wave bore down, I fired the card downward, allowing the burst to propel me onto its face. Using my momentum, I rode the wave like a barefoot surfer. The spray stung my eyes as I carved across its surface, letting it carry me toward the shore.


    The storm intensified. Lightning flashed through the churning skies, illuminating the chaos in strobing flashes. The wind picked up, ripping trees by their roots with explosive force.


    I hit the beach and stumbled face-first as my back gave way. After spitting a mouthful of sand, I coaxed my legs into running for the nearest tunnel entrance. Behind me, splintering wood and screaming metal told me Lance''s ship was being torn apart. The entrance came into view just as a palm tree crashed down where I''d been standing seconds before.


    I dove into the tunnel, rolling to absorb the impact, with my back again screaming in protest. The sound of the storm became muffled as I pushed deeper underground, heading for the muster point where Sora and Cragmarr would be waiting.


    * * *


    FEAT: DEFEAT A TIER 7 FACTION LEADER


    Lance the Lightslayer [Emperor]


    FEAT: DEFEAT A HIGHER-TIER ENEMY WITHOUT DIRECT CONFRONTATION [NINJA]


    You have assassinated a more powerful enemy using strategy and cunning. As part of the Ninja faction, this feat grants a double reward.


    LEVEL UPDATE


    Name: Ember [Judgment Dealer]*


    Tier: III [Steel] Rank 6


    I jumped two ranks by convincing Queen Zenobia to eliminate Lance as part of the Ninja faction. I''d have to keep that in mind.


    Navigating the narrow path between the jagged cliffs caused my lower back to pay the price of surfing through a hurricane. The sheltered cove came into view, and I spotted Sora and Cragmarr huddled near Jon''s still form. Rain poured down in waterfalls as the storm raged overhead.


    "Lance is taken care of," I said, dropping onto a crate of supplies. Kitty bounded over, springing into my arms.


    Sora''s head tilted as her eyes narrowed, revealing burns on half of her face. Her hair was singed, and blood trickled from a scalp wound.


    "How can you be sure?" she asked.


    "My interface." I pulled Kitty into my arms, burying my face in her soft fur. "Hey Crag, how''s Jon?"


    Cragmarr shifted his weight, the rocks in his clay body grinding softly.


    "Stable. He no longer needs our Zii to sustain life."


    "Thank you, Crag."


    I scratched behind Kitty''s ears as she purred against my chest. The tension in my shoulders began to ease—we''d actually done it. Survived an attack by Lance''s forces and managed to turn the tide with the water Golems.


    "I don''t know what to say," I said, looking between Sora and Cragmarr. "Both of you. I couldn''t have made it without your help."


    Sora patted my shoulder, the closest thing to a gesture of warmth I''d seen from her yet.


    "What happened with Kyra?" Cragmarr asked, also putting a hand on my shoulder.


    I tightened my hold on Kitty, avoiding his gaze.


    "I had to make another deal with the Amazons, which I''ll probably regret—my track record with deals kinda sucks. But I''d rather not talk about that right now. Let''s... enjoy this moment. We earned it. I''m starving and exhausted. Not to mention… woah."


    A sudden dizziness overtook me as I slumped off the crate.


    Cragmarr sprang to action and began a healing ritual.


    * * *


    "Jon, we did it," I said, lying beside his reflection in the Jingozi arena.


    ''Of course you did," his voice chided. "Was there ever any doubt, my dear?"


    "Yeah, well… but how are you? You plan to join us in the land of the living yet?"


    "Alas, Ember. I''m working on it. It appears my body doesn''t wish to comply."


    I looked up into the arena sky, still holding the two stars—mine and the other one somehow connected to the Shogun.


    "What now?" Jon asked.


    "I''m so tired. You have no idea what I''d do for a Vegas hotel bubble bath, robe, and silk sheets right now."


    "That sounds exquisite." Jon''s response twinged with a hint of sadness.


    "Jon, I—"


    "Ember," Alphathir''s voice rumbled through the arena. "It''s time."


    "Time for what?" I bolted to my feet.


    "The Jingozi tournament. I''m sending you as my prophet."


    "Your prophet? I''m not prepared for this. What am I supposed to say?"


    "You will know. Remember all that we''ve shared. What I''ve gifted you. You were designed for such a time as this."


    "I guess this means goodbye," Jon''s voice spoke.


    "Wait, what? Jon, you can hear that?"


    "Yes, my dear. It took me a while, but I muddled my way through learning to listen."


    "But what does this mean?"


    "It means that your destiny is not yet fulfilled," Jon replied. "Trust Alphathir, and trust yourself. Go win that tournament and your prize."


    "Jon…" I caught my breath. "Will I ever see you again?"


    Silence.


    I took a deep breath, staring at the shifting waves of light dancing across the arena sky. Prophet. The word felt heavy, like the weight of all those who had died or suffered because of my choices—Hiro, Hikari, Kaito, even Kyra, in her own way.


    And Jon... still trapped between life and death.


    My fingers traced the outline of the Jingozi cards I summoned into my hand. Everything had changed since that night at the Golden Nugget. The comfortable life I''d built playing cards and chasing social media fame felt like a dream from another lifetime.


    "I don''t know if I can do this," I whispered to the empty arena.


    Jon''s words echoed in my mind. Trust Alphathir, and trust yourself.


    I blinked back to reality, greeted by the cool night air. The storm had passed hours ago after we''d recovered from our injuries. Everyone slept around the dying embers of our fire—Sora curled up with her back against a rock, and Kitty stretched out by my side. Cragmarr was somewhere above us, standing vigil.


    And Jon…


    I tiptoed to where his body lay wrapped in blankets, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. His platinum hair glowed in the moonlight. I settled beside him, resting my head against his shoulder.


    * * *


    I jolted awake as the ground trembled beneath me. The vibrations grew, sending loose rocks tumbling down the cliff face.


    "Everyone, away from the cliff walls!" Cragmarr''s voice boomed from above.


    My jaw dropped as I looked skyward. A massive black pyramid hung in the air, its pointed tip aimed directly at us. The structure blocked the morning sun, casting us in a shadow. Thousands of glowing runes crawled across its obsidian surface like luminescent ants, pulsing in rainbow colors.


    I scrambled to my feet, steadying myself against the shaking earth. Sora pulled a crate lid over her head as Kitty covered Jon''s body.


    A seam appeared in the pyramid''s base, splitting open like a geometric flower. A brilliant beam of white light shot down, striking the ground between our group. The air crackled with Zii energy.


    "What is it?" I asked, shielding my eyes from the blinding radiance.


    "The Crucible," Cragmarr replied, dropping down beside us. "It is time for the Jingozi tournament."


    My heart raced as I remembered Alphathir''s words from the arena.


    Prophet.


    "No." Sora''s voice cut through the rumbling. She grabbed my arm tightly. "Something''s not right. You can''t go."


    The urgency in her tone made me pause. After everything we''d been through, I''d never heard Sora sound scared like this.


    "What do you mean?" I asked, but another tremor nearly knocked us off our feet.


    The beam intensified, and the runes on the pyramid spun faster. Their glow was almost painful to the eyes.


    "This isn''t how it''s supposed to happen," Sora insisted, pulling me back from the light. "It''s a trap."