Fool's Gamble

Yu Chen blinked several times, his mind racing as he stared at the interface before him.

'Genesis of Empires? That's impossible.'

'How could I be inside a game?'

'And what is with the amount of my upgrade points? Hundred... Hundred thousand... A million!?'

'A million upgrade points!?'

'The hell will someone do with that much!?'

He clenched his fists, trying to make sense of the chaos around him. The troops, the battlefield, the system interface—everything felt so real.

'Let's just calm down; nothing good comes from getting worked up…'

His senses were overwhelmed by the scent of blood and smoke, the clash of steel, and the distant roars of the Shadow Serpent.

How did I get sucked into the game? he thought, bewildered. He was sure of one thing—this was no dream. This was the world of Genesis of Empires, the game he had worked on for months. But how? Had he died at his desk and somehow woken up here?

Before he could think further, the knight who had addressed him earlier took a step closer, her eyes filled with concern. Her voice broke through his thoughts.

"My liege..."

"Are you alright? You... you seem different. Distant." She searched his face, her brows furrowing as if she feared the worst.

Yu was just about to nod, to reassure her that everything was fine—though it was far from the truth—when the knight suddenly dropped to her knees in front of him.

"I'm so sorry!" she shouted, her voice cracking with emotion. She slammed her forehead into the dirt, her armor clinking as she bowed low.

"I failed to protect you! My duty was to keep you safe, and yet you were wounded because of me! I beg you, my Emperor—please, allow me to atone for my failure!"

Her body shook as she slammed her head into the ground again, her voice rising in desperation.

"I'll accept any punishment, any at all! But please, let me stay by your side. Let me remain your knight!"

Yu Chen was stunned. The sight of her, this strong, armored warrior groveling before him, apologizing with such fervor—it left him speechless. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. His heart pounded in his chest, not from the injury but from the weight of the moment.

'What am I supposed to do?'

'They keep calling me Emperor, but who the hell is this emperor?'

Yu Chen's mind raced. 'Wait, if this is the game world and I'm in the body of a character, I should be able to check my status window.'

That would at least tell him who he was supposed to be in this strange new reality.

He took a breath, ready to call out "Status Window," but before he could, the system seemed to react on its own, responding to his thoughts. A glowing green screen materialized in front of him, displaying detailed information about the character he now inhabited. His eyes loomed through the display.

---

Name: Arkanos Bloodbane

Title(s):

Foolish Tyrant Emperor

Scourge of the Valtor Empire

Ruin of the Verdant Lands

Scorn of the High Council

Fallen Heir of Nature

Betrayer of the Sacred Pact

Level: 30

Race: Halvorn (Half Nature Sprite, Half Human)

Class: Druid

Lineage: Son of Emperor Veltharion Bloodbane and Queen Selene Windwhisper (Nature Sprite)

Marital Status:

Queen: Illena Bloodbane

Concubine 1: Sephira Windwhisper

Concubine 2: Kaela Darkmoon

Heir(s): N/E

---

Skills

1. Nature's Wrath (Active) – Summon the forces of nature to strike down enemies with vines, thorns, and roots.

2. Spirit of the Grove (Passive) – Increase affinity with natural environments, enhancing healing and regeneration in forests and meadows.

3. Druidic Ward (Active) – Call upon the primal spirits of nature to create a protective barrier around allies, reducing damage taken.

4. Nature's Touch (Active) - Call upon small sprites of nature to boost vitality, heal wounds, and cure poisons.

---

Yu Chen's eyes lingered on the titles, especially the one that read "Foolish Tyrant Emperor." It was clear this character had a reputation that was less than favorable.

'Arkanos Bloodbane... I don't remember writing in such a character, but it's clear the man is hated, feared, and possibly even doomed.'

'I'm doomed…' The titles told the story of a failed ruler—despised by his people, one that would not only doom himself but those that followed him.

'This is me now.' He exhaled slowly. 'I'm the emperor of a collapsing empire. And everyone thinks I'm a fool.'

---

As Yu thought about the title "Foolish Tyrant Emperor," a sinking feeling lodged itself in his gut. It disturbed him, an uncomfortable truth he couldn't shake off.

All of this, this blood-soaked battlefield, the wounded and dying soldiers, the monstrous serpent they were ill-prepared to face, it may be his fault. Or rather, Arkanos's fault.

Somehow, his hands were stained by the decisions of a ruler too blind to see his own foolishness.

He swallowed hard, his pulse pounding in his ears. The situation felt far too real. The title alone made him feel uneasy, as if reminding him of the past sins he had yet to understand.

With a quick thought, he called out to the system,

'Give me a full event report,' a function added in the game for players to know the direction or current progression of a quest and get suggestions on its possible routes.

Immediately, a new window materialized before him.

---

[Mission Report: The Tyrant's Gamble]

Quest Name: "Slay The Serpent: Pacify the Abyssal Grove"

Objective: Pacify the Abyssal Grove and retrieve the Serpent's Relic, an ancient artifact said to possess the power to tip the balance in the upcoming war.

Status: In Progress

Outcome: Critical Failure Imminent

Summary:

On direct orders from you, Emperor Arkanos Bloodbane, your forces have ventured deep into the Abyssal Grove to acquire the Serpent's Relic. Despite warnings from your advisors and generals about the troops being neither properly equipped nor strong enough to handle the dangers, you insisted on leading this mission personally. Your arrogance and impatience have placed the empire's finest soldiers in a hopeless situation.

The enemy, a colossal black serpent known as Nythralis, has decimated your forces. Morale is crumbling. Your troops are vastly under-leveled, and their equipment is insufficient to withstand the beast's venomous strikes.

Current Casualties: 40% of deployed forces

Estimated Survival Rate if Retreat Initiated Now: 25%

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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.