Chapter 40: NO
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“It’s time, prisoner.”
Two guards escorted me out of the cell, and we passed Jon in the hallway. He caught my eye with a subtle nod—a signal. He’d found the old man.
I tackled Jon to the floor, wrapping my rope bindings around his neck.
Sorry Jon, you did say we need to make this look convincing.
“You mother fucker!” I shrieked. “I’d leave this city right now if I were you! You hear me? Leave right now!”
The two guards dragged me back, kicking and screaming. Jon played along, acting stunned.
“Get that wench away from me,” he hissed.
As the guard dragged me backward down the hall on my heels, I mouthed, “Thank you.” Jon winked with a tip of his hat.
The guards pushed me through the double doors, revealing a vast throne room. Inside, the light filtered through tall, stained-glass windows. But the smell was unmistakable—Edric’s God-awful cologne, or whatever the hell it was.
The guards flanked me, and the doors closed behind us with a resounding thud. The throne at the far end was larger-than-life—almost comically so—draped in deep purple and gold, with a seated Edric.
“Welcome to Emperia,” he said, rising to his feet. “Or shall I say, welcome back?”
The guards shoved me forward as Edric descended the marble steps.
“Ember, my child, the Samurai have been desperate to find you, only to be outplayed again.”
He was as I remembered—except for two differences. His eyes were blacker and smoldered with longer wisps of purple smoke. And the overpowering scent of his cologne was worse—way worse. But I was still missing something.
I blinked into the Jingozi arena for a better look.
Zooming in revealed the faintest trace of scarring along Edric’s jaw, like a hairline fracture in ancient porcelain—barely visible unless you knew to look.
Wait a second, is he wearing makeup?
The scar, the makeup, the overpowering cologne… was all too much, too deliberate. Edric was hiding something.
I once saw a documentary about how morticians prepped bodies for funerals. They shared the tricks of the trade—how to mask the signs of decay and paint life back onto a corpse—the embalming, the heavy scents, the careful application of cosmetics to hide the truth. It all made sense now. He’s dying, or worse—already dead—rotting.
I blinked back into the throne room.
“I know you did it,” I said.
“Me?” Edric said.
“You were there, and so were the Jingozi. You killed the Shogun.”
“Of course I did, girl. Something impossible for you. But they needed someone to blame. I thought the spike in the eye was a nice touch. Would you not agree?”
“Why not take the credit?”
“What would I gain from an outright war between our factions? Why, when I can conquer them by destroying them from the inside? Besides, it is much more entertaining this way.”
I stood in silence.
“But you, my dear Ember, such a daring escape. That is why you are not dead—yet. I want to propose an alliance. Join the Emperor faction so I can put your talents to better use and show you true power.”
“No.”
“Ember, I am giving you a chance to live. But more than that, this is your chance for more wealth and glory than even the Jingozi offer.”
“No.”
Edric stood there, blinking.
“What’s wrong, Edric?” I asked. “I take it you don’t hear that word very often.”
I caught the tiniest of tells—a snarl that curled the corner of his mouth for a split-second. He extended his hand, and a guard stepped forward with Cragmarr’s Jingozi card belt.
“When a Jingozi apprentice loses their deck, they lose everything,” he traced the belt with his finger. “But I have learned there is so much more to lose.” He extended his palm to me. “Give me one of your Zii.”
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“No.”
“Girl, I do not think you—”
“No, no, and before you ask again, no.”
We locked eyes.
“Very well then,” he looked away. “You will either join me or give me your power and die. It appears your life has come full circle.”
* * *
Edric was right. I’d come full circle, right back to where I started.
The same dungeon, dark and cold, the same stench of mold and decay. My wrists, once again, aching from the ropes, suspending me in the cell. The same rough burlap sack scratched against my skin. I focused on breathing and staying calm, knowing what was next.
Heavy, deliberate footsteps made my heart pound. The door opened as Edric and two guards entered. The Emperor circled me for an inspection. I felt his eyes all over me.
“Do you know why I do not simply flay the flesh from your bones?” he asked. “When you have power like mine, you lose a certain touch with the visceral reality of pain. It gets rather dull. There is something so irresistible about doing things with your bare hands.”
My heart felt like it was about to explode.
“Just get this over with, you son of a bitch,” I hissed.
“My my, when did you become so brave? I must say, it is a far cry from the scared little girl the last time you entertained me.”
“I’d say die and go to hell, Edric. But by that smell, I’m guessing you’re halfway there already.”
Edric stepped forward and delivered a hard punch to my stomach. I bit the inside of my cheek, tasting blood.
AUTO DODGE UNAVAILABLE
He struck me harder.
I blinked into the Jingozi arena and practiced Zii-Chi meditation as the Monks taught me. The pain in my mind cleared. Blinking back, physically, I felt no relief. Mentally, I was prepared to repeat the process for as long as it took.
I will not fold. Go ahead, you fucking asshole.
“Beat her,” the Emperor snarled. “Make her scream.”
The first fist collided with my ribs, followed by a second blow from the other. They rained punches from every angle. I clamped my jaw shut, refusing to cry out.
Every time I blinked in and out, his expression became more furious.
Come on, Em, you almost have him.
I lost track of how long the beating lasted. Reality blurred as the Jingozi arena and the cell became one in my mind.
“You got this, Ember,” the voice said, “Stay courageous.”
“It hurts,” I cried.
“I know.”
“Enough!” Edric shouted.
The guards stepped back, rubbing their knuckles through their gloves.
The Emperor grabbed a handful of my hair and forced me to meet his eyes.
“Take the night to reconsider,” he said. “But tomorrow, the real pain begins, starting with that pretty little face of yours.”
They exited the room, one after another. I meditated using Zii-Chi for a few more moments.
Move Ember. Just move.
With a flick of my wrist, I loaded my Jingozi hand and threw a card that spun around the room. It sliced the rope, freeing my arm. I cut the rest of my bindings with the knife from my inventory.
NEW MISSION: DUNGEON ESCAPE
Escape the Emperia dungeons.
I collapsed onto the floor, blood spilling from my mouth.
Reaching into my inventory, I pulled the healing herbs looted from the Amazons. Kyra explained in Gilderport that I could boost the healing effects with Zii. They were like tea bags, and I swallowed three packets after infusing each with a Zii coin. The pain dulled, but the damage was done. It would have to do for now.
I searched for the grate on the floor to escape—except it wasn’t there this time.
Shit.
Crouching low, I eased the door open, barely a crack. Peeking down the hall, two guards stood at the far end, chatting away.
I blinked into the Jingozi arena and walked through the dungeon. In the reflection, I followed the hallway with the guards. Three other closed-door rooms were next to mine—likely more interrogation chambers. As I turned the corner, two more stationed guards came into view.
Further down were twenty barred cells. I inspected each one for occupants—most were sleeping or unconscious. This part of the dungeon was dedicated to long-term prisoners.
After eleven cells, I found the old man. He sat with his back against the wall, but his head was tilted upward as if staring into a security camera, knowing someone was watching. The reflection on the floor amplified his eyes, glowing with fire.
NEW MISSION: THE PRISONER
Rescue the mysterious prisoner from the Emperia dungeons.
Based on the available lines of sight, blinking into the old man’s cell wouldn’t work, so I returned to mine. I changed into my Ninja suit and checked my hand.
Blinking behind the two closest guards, I struck each with a card to the back of the head. Stunned, they crumpled without a sound. I caught them, easing their bodies to the floor.
The door to the nearest interrogation chamber was unlocked. Inside, a muscular Amazon hung from ropes attached to the ceiling. A mess of bruises and open wounds covered her body.
Dragging the guards’ bodies into the cell, my sides screamed in protest. A quick check confirmed that the Amazon was dead.
I had no time to check the other interrogation rooms. Rounding the corner, I fired two more cards. The guards had no chance, their bodies hitting the ground before they knew what happened.
With the path clear, I sprinted to the old man’s cell. The lock shattered from another card, and I rushed in.
Name: Katorro Hoshizaki
Tier 5 Jingozi Grandmaster
Faction: Ninja [Mystic]
Level: ???
Holy shit.
He was alive—barely—his body frail and emaciated. I infused a healing packet with Zii, placed the herbs in his mouth, and gave him a sip from a waterskin. His breathing steadied slightly.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Katorro Hoshikazi. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Lifting him over my shoulder, we stepped out of the cell.
A voice called out from across the hall. An older elf stood at the bars.
“Please, don’t leave me here,” he said.
A card flew from my hand, smashing open the lock on his door.
I flung my strongest card, charged with 16 Zii, at the small window at the end of the hall. The explosion rumbled through the dungeon, blowing the wall open enough for an escape. The shouts of guards sounded the alarm.
With Katorro in tow, I sprinted toward the gaping hole in the wall. But I hesitated at the last moment, my momentum almost sending the old man through the gap. My stomach lurched—a steep drop plunged into the dark waters far below. Bracing myself, I leaned out and looked up. The wall was built into the side of a cliff, and we were about halfway down.
AUTO DODGE: SUCCESSFUL
Card Discarded [2/4] 50%
Three guards fired crossbows behind me. I twisted my body, an arrow skimming my sleeve, but the other two sank into the Katorro’s back. His body jerked with the impact.
I fired a card that exploded into a thick cloud of smoke. But my foot slipped on the rubble, sending us tumbling into the night sky.