Chapter 32

  The infiltration went off without a hitch. Now I gotta hide Gary’s body. If Ksiron finds it, he might notice a few missing organs. Doubt he’d suspect anything, but better safe than sorry. Dragging a massive kitten carcass isn’t an option. I’ll move it in pieces. Head here, paws there, a chunk in this house, a chunk in another… Hell’s a pretty convenient place to ditch a corpse.

  Great. That’s handled. Next question: WHAT THE FUCK DO I DO NOW?! My plan had one step. I figured I’d free Kserox while the other general went on the attack. But now I’m screwed. My costume was a one-and-done deal. It was sewn up from the outside, so I can’t use it alone. And it sure as hell won’t fit two. Gotta escape! But… Shit… Where to? All exits are guarded. Maybe I could pose as a sentry and swap with someone on duty? Then I could signal Aiden somehow. Except we didn’t plan for that. He wouldn’t get it if I started waving a torch. He’d think I’m swatting flies. Plus, it’s risky. What if all the demons here know each other by face? If so, I’m fucked… If I just run, nothing changes for me. Gotta take the initiative.

  Let’s break it down: the lord’s forces will show up soon. I can’t predict what happens if both contenders die or stay alive till then. It’s simpler if only one’s left standing. They could spin things their way. History’s written by the victors, after all. Honestly, I don’t care who it is. Their asses are probably equally rough to kiss. Main goal: gain trust. Guess I’ll have to dig up every shitty joke I’ve ever heard.

  But if I somehow kill Kserox, nothing stops Aiden’s forces from attacking. Then Ksiron might die in battle. Result: no asses to kiss. It’d be better to kill Ksiron. If I save Kserox, he’ll owe me big time. So, I’ve got a rough target. Now the small matter of doing it. Yeah… Small… Assassin’s Creed is just a game on PC. Real life doesn’t have “press Ctrl” tricks. I’ve got no sniper rifle, no regular rifle, no silenced pistol, no explosives, no grenade launcher, no cyanide… What, stab him with a dagger? Am I a complete idiot? He never sleeps, the city’s crawling with demons, and I’ve only got one life with no save point. Brutal.

  There’s always about twenty demons around Kserox on the square. To free him, I need to distract them. If I just say there’s fresh human meat around the corner, would they buy it? Maybe, maybe not? Fuck… How do I distract them? If a fight breaks out with Aiden, they won’t stay put. Probably… Just need to signal him somehow. Send a pigeon? Toss a rock with a note? And before that, I gotta deal with Ksiron. Then sneak Kserox out of the city. None of these steps seem remotely doable. Ugh… What a shitshow…

  Screw it, let it all go to hell. Gotta get outta here, fast and far. Fate’s made damn sure I never escape this place. Believing I can pull something off is nice and all. Someone said if you chase your goal, it’ll come to you. But sometimes your goal’s got topological idiocy and heads the opposite way. In my case, it’s on a fucking jet. I used to think wanting something bad enough meant you could achieve anything. Time to grow up. Nothing falls into place on its own. You gotta build it with sweat and blood. And even then, it’s not all up to you. Your dream doesn’t shield you from the shitshow lurking around the corner.

  It’s so easy to buy into it. Someone says you’ve got a great future, and you start thinking it’s prophetic. But it’s all bullshit for weaklings. Prophecies are sweet poison. Every story with a prophecy is garbage. Like… Do what feels right. The prophecy says it’ll be fine. No need to worry. Sure… No need. – Ha! Sweet poison, huh? – Yeah… Kinda. Why? – Poison’s poison! Great way to kill. – You know I meant it figuratively, right? – Uh-huh…

  …

  - Pardon, Your Most Graciousness, this demon claims he’s got urgent business with you.

  - Who’s this guy? Looks sketchy.

  - Says he’s from the center. Nobody saw him enter the city.

  - My ways are unfathomable to the blind like you. I carry the burden of knowledge on my shoulders, so my steps are invisible to prying eyes. (God… What am I even saying?)

  - Huh?

  - Oh, Ksiron, greatest of the great. None rival you above or below the earth! Allow me to bow before you and become your loyal servant till my dying day!

  - Uh… Okay… Find this guy some work.

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  - Wait, Your Unsurpassedness. I already have a purpose. My mission is to serve and guide you. My name’s Elon. I’m your destined aide, as you are mine.

  - What? Hold up, do I know you from somewhere?

  - Of course, Your Wise-Wisdomness. No surprise my face seems familiar—you’re the only one who’s broken time’s chains and glimpsed the future. I’m merely a conduit to help you read it. Truth speaks through me. I’ve seen what’s coming. A demon whose shadow is night. Whose power is boundless, like an ocean. Whose will is granite. The mightiest under and above the heavens. Great Ksiron—the First to become a god, the supreme king of demons!

  Holy shit, I nailed it… Jaws dropped all around. If you think about it, I just tried to incite the general to a coup. Bit late to realize that… Am I dead now?

  - King? – Ksiron mumbled. – What’re you on about?

  Oh, no way. I see you drooling. My poison’s already working. You can deny it all you want, but your narcissistic ass will eat it up. I’ve given shape to your deepest desires, and you won’t let them go.

  - Till now, the Lord kept my existence secret. I wield magic that foresees the future. Recently, a vision came to me. Like a faint, ashen trail on the wind, I saw the one destined to claim hell’s throne. His steps shook the earth. His gaze burned cities. His breath swept armies beyond the horizon. The world was bound in heavy chains, his alone. When I told the Lord of the inevitable, he fled like a coward from fate. He couldn’t accept you as his master, so he tried to ruin your name first. He accused you of treason.

  - What?! You mean…

  - Yes. All those rumors are the Lord’s plan. – Oh, yeah… He’s not letting go of that bait. Just say he’s exceptional with a straight face, and he’ll believe it with all his heart. Damn, this is spinning nicely.

  - No way. I don’t buy it! – Oh, who’re you kidding? You buy it hard.

  - Doubt not, Your Legendary Mightitude. (My random honorific generator’s glitching.) No pathetic attempts by worthless scum will stand in your way. You must believe in your destiny. It’s a thread tying us to our purpose. Nothing in the universe can break it. My magic lets me see it. Your thread is the strongest, the brightest. It could blind you. Few can grasp the power sleeping in your soul. Be certain, I’ve never been wrong with prophecies. You’re destined to be a god.

  I dropped to my knees and bowed, waiting for Ksiron’s reaction. He was silent. His brain was already painting vivid fairy tales from the bullshit I fed him. But a minute later, he grimaced, like he remembered leaving the iron on.

  - So, no help’s coming from the Lord. He’ll side with those pathetic traitors.

  - Which is why we must crush them ASAP.

  - But we’re outnumbered two to one.

  - Stop doubting. Believe in yourself! Nothing can stop you. I’ve seen this day. I know what we must do to win.

  - What?

  - Unite! All of us, called to serve you with faith and truth! Gather everyone! They need to hear my words. They need to see what I’ve seen. Then we’ll be unstoppable.

  Ten minutes later, about three hundred demons packed the square. Not everyone, but most. Time to perform. I climbed a small rock for visibility. God, what am I doing?... I ask myself that every second. No turning back. Time to birth a new religion. I’ll be its first priest. Watch out, demons. Not everyone’s coming out unscathed. Faith’s a hell of a weapon.

  - Hear me, you wretched, blind, and sightless! The day has come! Time to open your eyes! Time to wake from slumber! Hear me, you damned! The hour is here. Today, we greet a new era. It begins with you! You’re doomed to be draped in glory! Fear not! I, the voice of truth, will lead you through darkness to the stars!

  Solid start, but my voice lacks punch. A wave of skeptical murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some even laughed.

  - SILENCE!!! – Ksiron grabbed their attention for me.

  - I’m the first destined to see this day. – I continued. – A day sung in history. For I can see the truth. The inevitable! I’m the true prophet and witness to His Boundlessness, the Lord of all the world, and my name is Elon in the Mask! Hear this: a vision foretold the chosen demon, whose strength and wisdom can conquer the world. He stands before you! Ksiron is his name! Bow to him as a god, for he’ll shape your fates with a just hand!

  The reaction wasn’t wild, but when Ksiron swept the crowd with his fierce glare, every last one knelt.

  - The future is near! Don’t fear meeting it! I’ve seen His Majesty Ksiron, greatest of gods. I know it’s true, as sure as the sun rises tomorrow. But fate doesn’t come alone. You must march toward it. Fight for it! The wretched king defied it, sending his thugs against us. Right now, his forces approach the city. They’ll join that pack of traitors and crush us. But that won’t happen. They want to kill us? We’ll kill them first! They want to crush our dreams? We’ll crush theirs! They’re pathetic traitors, blind to the sun. We’re stronger! We’ll grind them to dust. I’ve seen it, as I see you now. Be certain. With us is His Invincibility Ksiron. We’ve nothing to fear. Soon, their dead bodies will carpet the earth beneath our feet! We’ll tread their worthless corpses with pride! Together, we’re unstoppable, for the world’s fate protects us! Today, we march to battle and forge our glorious history! We’re links in a chain leading to the summit! We won’t waver or break! We are one! We are one! We are one!!!

  The stunned demons stared at me like goats at a new gate.

  - We are one! We are ONE! – Ksiron bailed me out again.

  - We are ONE! We are ONE! – The demons picked it up. Perfect. Better than I expected. Plenty of hotheads here, ready for action.

  - Right now, we’re scattered fragments! To win, our will, our minds, must be one! We must forge all links! Literally! And then our chain will be unbreakable! As proof of your faith, you must pierce your bodies with great chain links!