A New Emperor?
Yu Chen's throat went dry. He—or rather, Arkanos—had dragged them all here for an artifact. An artifact meant to give them an advantage in the upcoming war. And yet, they weren't prepared. Not even close.
Guilt weighed on him. These people were fighting and dying for a ruler who had doomed them with his arrogance.
'What's at stake if we successfully retreat?' Yu Chen asked in his thoughts.
The system responded.
---
[Retreat Consequences]
Forces Loyalty: 70% of remaining soldiers will resign, citing your reckless leadership.
Internal Rebellion: The growing rebellion within the empire, which has thus far remained in the shadows, will publicly rise up. Your failure here will embolden them to act openly.
Grand Vizier Cedric Raine: Seizing the opportunity, Grand Vizier Cedric Raine will carry out a coup. He will publicly execute you and take the throne for himself, solidifying his claim with the full support of the High Council.
Outcome: Immediate execution. The Bloodbane dynasty will end.
The bloodline ends with you.
---
Yu Chen's heart pounded as he read these words. If they retreated, he was as good as dead.
Yu Chen clenched his fists.
'Retreating isn't an option, then.'
He thought to himself. He couldn't let that happen, not after everything he had just learned. He mentally made a note of Grand Vizier Cedric Raine. The name felt important, critical, even. If what the system said was true, this man could become his worst enemy.
He had already died once just moments ago, at least from his perspective. The idea of getting a second life only to face death again wasn't appealing in the slightest.
'What about if we succeed in this mission?'
He asked, holding onto a flicker of hope that a victory here might save him.
The system's response was less urgent, but no less severe:
---
[Success Scenario]
Rebellion: The rebellion will remain hidden, not emboldened by your failure.
Forces Loyalty: Though the rebellion won't become public, your troops' loyalty will still drop significantly due to the heavy casualties caused by your poor leadership and reckless decision-making.
Summary: You will survive, but the damage to your reputation and the morale of your forces will cause future problems. The empire will slowly unravel as trust erodes.
---
Yu Chen exhaled sharply, a wave of disappointment washing over him.
'So even if we win, things still fall apart?'
He thought. He wouldn't die, but survival alone wasn't enough. He needed more than just living through this disaster—he needed control.
'That's good, but I want better than that,' he asked, his thoughts racing. 'What's the best possible outcome?'
The system took a moment before responding:
---
[Optimal Outcome]
To fully turn the tide and not just survive but emerge as a revered leader, the following actions are required:
1. Display Overwhelming Power: Use your abilities to shield all your troops from further harm. Heal their wounds and injuries, bolstering their morale and preventing additional casualties.
2. Defeat Nythralis Elegantly: End the life of the serpent with a display of charisma, grace, and dominance. Your actions must not only kill the beast but inspire awe in your men, ensuring they view you as more than a tyrant—a leader worth following.
3. Personal Sacrifice: After the battle, personally attend to the burial of the fallen. Make each gravestone memorable, an honor to their service. Compensate their families generously to show that their lives mattered to you.
4. Celebrate the Heroes: Hold a grand ceremony to honor the sacrifices of your soldiers. Use this event to reforge your bond with the empire's citizens.
5. Invest in Your Forces: Spend significant funds on further training for your soldiers and equip them with the best armor and weapons from skilled blacksmiths to prepare for future conflicts.
Result: Loyalty among your troops will rise to 62% from its current 27%. The empire will remain intact, but there is a downside: Many will believe you've been possessed.
Grand Vizier Cedric Raine will lead rumors that your drastic change in demeanor is due to dark influence, whispering that you've struck a pact with demons. He will suggest that your newfound power is merely a ploy to lull the people into complacency before sacrificing their souls for your sinister agenda.
---
'The hell? That guy again!?'
Yu Chen leaned back, absorbing the information. The best possible scenario would have him display power and charisma, shield his men, heal their wounds, and end the serpent's life in a way that would inspire loyalty. He could see the path, the hard work of regaining the trust of his people, but Cedric Raine would still be a thorn in his side, claiming he was possessed.
He swallowed hard. 'So, no matter what I do, I'm going to have enemies.' But at least this way, he had a chance to rebuild. A chance to turn things around.
'I'll take it,' Yu Chen thought to himself. If he was going to do this, he'd do it right.
Yu Chen clenched his jaw, thinking hard. He knew he needed to display overwhelming power to complete the mission, but if he was labeled as possessed, everything would be for nothing. There had to be a way around it—a way to carry out his plan without looking like a monster.
Suddenly, he remembered something.
'System, open the shop.'
A series of categories materialized before him. His eyes scanned through them, heart pounding with desperation. He desperately hoped what he needed was here. It had been part of the last beta update, right?
Then he saw it.
[Divine Affiliation.]
A slight grin spread across his face as he opened the category. He quickly scrolled through the list, searching for a particular deity. There it was—the Goddess of Justice and Purity. Without hesitation, his eyes hovered over the option and saw the button: "Become a follower" (500 upgrade points).
He groaned. 'So expensive; if it was back in the game, a player would need to save up for nearly two months to get that much... Can't believe I'm saying this, but thank God I didn't fix the upgrade points bug before coming here.'
With that, he purchased the affiliation.
Suddenly, a sharp sting spread across his back like fire scorching his skin. He gasped, his body convulsing as an intense burning sensation overwhelmed him.
[The Goddess is branding you. Her insignia has been placed upon your back.]
[Holy power is flowing into you.]
[Complete!]
[Congratulations! You are now a follower of the Goddess of Justice and Purity, Telehera.]
[May your path from henceforth be a pure and just one.]
Yu Chen let out a scream, his body trembling from the pain. The head priestess rushed over, shock in her eyes, while the knight, still bleeding from a gash on her forehead, leaned closer.
"What's wrong now, my liege?"
He raised a trembling hand. "I'm fine," he managed to say through gritted teeth. But inside, he was cursing the scriptwriters.
'Damn you all! Who the fuck decided the branding would be done with holy fire? Shit... I'm sure regular fire would have hurt as much, but I can't help but feel this hurts more!'
The knight hesitated, then spoke again, her voice filled with worry. "If you're truly unwell, we should retreat. My liege, we don't stand a chance of winning anyway…"
"No!" Yu Chen's voice, though strained with pain, was firm. The knight and the head priestess exchanged nervous glances.
He couldn't retreat. Not now. Not after the branding. This was his only shot at turning things around, but the question still hung in the air—could he live up to the path of purity and justice now marked on his body? He took a deep breath, feeling the burn slowly subside, his resolve hardening in his chest. He had to do this.
Yu Chen—no, Arkanos Bloodbane—suddenly rose to his feet, despite the lingering pain in his body. The knight beside him looked startled as he turned to her, his eyes sharper than before.
"What is your name?" he demanded.
She hesitated, confused. "My liege… I've been by your side since childhood. Did the crash affect your memory as well?"
He narrowed his eyes and yelled, "You still haven't answered my question!"
The knight flinched at the force of his voice, stuttering before she managed to respond. "I-It's Seraphine Valebright, my liege, of the Valebright family."
Arkanos's gaze softened slightly. "Good. Now, Seraphine, order our forces to pull back."
Her eyes widened in shock. "But my liege, I thought we weren't retreating? You said—"
"Pull them back," Arkanos interrupted sharply. "I will handle the monster myself."
Seraphine's mouth opened to protest, but the words died on her lips as she saw the fire in his eyes.
The head priestess, standing just behind them, exchanged a nervous glance with the knight. Both women felt a familiar sense of dread settle in; the arrogance was back, or worse, perhaps the emperor had completely lost his mind.
The head priestess stepped forward, her voice pleading. "Your Majesty, please reconsider. You were fortunate to survive the beast's attack that nearly killed you. One more strike could be fatal! We should retreat now while we still have a chance!"
Arkanos smiled softly at her concern. "Fear not. I have been enlightened and empowered by the Goddess of Justice and Purity."
Both Seraphine and the head priestess stared at him, bewildered. "What do you mean, my liege?" Seraphine asked cautiously.
But before either of them could press further, Arkanos began to radiate a brilliant aura of holy power. From his back, a glowing golden scales of justice insignia shon through his clothing, visible for all to see.
Their eyes widened in shock and awe as the holy power surrounded them, they couldn't deny it's presence.
Arkanos raised his head, his voice echoed with conviction. "From this day forward, I shall turn a new leaf. I will avenge the fallen by ending that foul creature's life. And those who remain shall return home with their honor restored."
"For the empire!"