“Nyaa-chan, you were right. I’ve seen too much in my time with him. At the facilities, in the businesses, it’s growing rampant. It pains me, I enjoy my time with him. To think that I would be one this time...how do we know Myalor isn’t watching?”, grumbled Ahgo.

“We don’t. We just have to hope his voyeurism is elsewhere now, or he stopped. Your friendship with him is helpful. I’m...sorry to make you do this. I doubt I would still be alive if he knew. I don’t know if he’s wrong, honestly. If he were to succeed, my work would go down in history. Someone he’s using to produce it would get the credit though, that pisses me off. Myalor should get the credit. At least he had the balls to use the damn thing, even if he was dying anyways,” said Nyaa-chan.

“From my experience with the complexities of your world, it seems like a trivial step. Into the digital world, forsake the real one? Although he has limited it to the dying and intelligent, no doubt this will be kept as a secret of the state. In my time as Hero-King, I would have made the same choice,” wondered Ahgo.

“No, no, it’s not like that. Corporations aren’t states. You’re right though. Shadowy favors, and who knows what else. Not like I’m doing this to punish him that. It’s not like what I did was that special, it’s just a matter of how many people know about it now...Myalor did a good job keeping me in the dark,” said Nyaa-chan.

“It won’t end the change to your world then? Why is this necessary then, and specifically that…”, complained Ahgo.

“Kaub asked me. She, and you, need to be protected. I’ve got to take them out. Everyone. The first move is this. I hope you can pull though, that favor you asked for, you’re mad. That could get us both killed,” said Nyaa-chan.

“You seem a bit more of a villain than I expected, Nyaa-chan. That our interests would align so readily, that I would finally talk to you because of Kaub’s insistence… I have misjudged you. How do you plan to win, with so many enemies against you, hiding in the dark behind a mastermind far beyond your skill and power? And for that girl, not even a real person? You…I don’t hate that. After all, it reminds me of someone,” grinned Ahgo.

“I won’t stop fighting, Ahgo,” said Nyaa-chan.

A grand hall open to the air outside as if a whole wall was missing. Myalor’s place, Hygea, the stage was set by Myalor at Ahgo’s request. A few hours duel. Ahgo walked in observing Myalor and the vast hall, down a small flight of steps put in the marble floor for appearances and grandeur only.

“You’ve brought a sword this time, Myalor. Good to see you finally want to humor me a bit. Maybe I can teach you a thing or two,” said Ahgo.

“Heh, I’m sure, Hero-King. This is just a game after all, even if we were equal in power without consequences, what’s the point? I think I should try enjoy myself more in my old age. Not getting any younger,” groaned Myalor.

“Let’s play a bit. A drama, me and you. If this was a serious battle, both of us turned enemies yet still friends, what would you say?”, said Ahgo, “I’ll go first. I have been enjoying myself quite a bit telling stories like I read as a child, I’m sure you don’t mind?”, said Ahgo

“Go ahead, please,” urged Myalor with a smile on his face.

Ahgo drew in breath dramatically.

"Myalor! Foul cretin, you miserable old man! How much of me shall you delete? How much shall you save? Thought I have no power to stop you, my efforts proved fruitless, I have already known the loss of my Kingdom. What victory can you attain against someone who can achieve no victory at all?", Ahgo spoke grandly to befit the hall.

Myalor smirked, not wanting to destroy the mood. This wasn’t something he hated.

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"A worthless victory is worthless, a battle I wouldn't fight. I enjoy your company though. You have no appreciation for the fruits of mankind. What can you teach me? From the depths of that girl's mind, just what could you possibly have to teach someone like me? Swordplay? What use is swordplay against a gun, a bomb, a virus, an idea spread to enslave?”, Myalor said.

"Indeed, Earth is strong. From what you're doing and what I've seen of the earthlings, you achieved far more than I had ever dreamed long before I existed. An endless tale of victories, trivial to wondrous and countless in number seem to lie before you. I am alien to your land, and would rather not disturb a wiser king than me from his work," Ahgo countered.

"Then why? I could just peek into your mind and find out the truth. Your swordplay, your life, all those secrets would be lost, but, I, to a friend such as you, that is something I would never do!", Myalor said.

"You could, but you won’t? Just because you know me well? I would never tell an enemy of mine my capability if I could withhold such information. All that tells me is that you are hesitant, you have not decided what you truly desire as I have. If I were to do that and my Kingdom would suffer, I would not forgive myself. How disappointing. Though your subjects are so great, what do they need such a king for?"

Myalor stopped and pondered. He laughed.

"I wouldn't ask to be their king, only a guide. Do you intend to tell me what you're really doing? To be rude to such a magnificent friend like you and peek into your mind, I want to avoid that,” Myalor growled.

Ahgo saw his sword tune a different shade of blue. That was the signal that the deed was done. It was only necessary from the start to distract him long enough. Nyaa-chan could take little chances, with only one continue in his world. The final act was Ahgo’s, his goal clear.

"Can't blame you. This victory was only won because I never stopped fighting, even though it's trivial to me. One blow to you, Phantom of Granadyr,” Ahgo stared at him seriously for the first time.

"Victory? Me, a Phantom of Granadyr? To think I'd be compared to a character in your story, that you would call me the fake one."

"Granadyr never fought me. He won. This time though, you lost. You’ve done too much, Myalor. Your reign as King came to an end,” stated Ahgo pointing his sword at Myalor.

Myalor tried to peek into Ahgo’s mind in a panic, tired of Ahgo's games. He couldn't access anything in his mind. He was the same as Ahgo now, unable to communicate. Shock spread across his face and his mind raced, then he burst out in joy.

"Ohh! Brilliant. Brilliant! I love it, Ahgo. All this time I wanted so badly to continue my work, so you took that away! Tell me, is this the part where you kill me, delete me? I've only died once before you know! I'm excited for the next one!", Myalor said beatific.

"Kill a friend of mine? A wise deposed king like you? Continue your work another way, just as I did. Didn't you say I had nothing to teach you, Myalor, Phantom of Granadyr?", Ahgo smirked.

Myalor broke out in laughter and hugged himself then pointed at Ahgo while merry. The echoes resounded in the hall, bouncing off Ahgo and through the palace of Hygea.

Myalor regained his breath, though he had no need to do so, and let out a sigh as he sat down on the steps of the flight of stairs there for appearance only, groaning.

"Geez, I thought I would stop getting older after I died. Ahgo, how old are you?", Myalor complained.

"Couple months."

"No, I mean your real age."

"I told you. Do you not trust me?"

"You just betrayed me, how could I?", Myalor’s eyes were wet.

Ahgo sat down near him on the steps, and looped his arm around the old man's back.

"I convinced Nyaa-chan of your worth. I saved your life, freed your people from your overbearing influence. It was the best thing I could do, as your friend. A king to another king," Ahgo smiled.

Myalor looked towards the open hall, the site for the duel that wasn’t fought, and sighed.

"I'm going to miss checking my mail. I suppose you're right. I should leave it to the kids, shouldn't I?"

"Hardly, old man. I am less than a child to you, and learned many things from my time with you. If only you held back a little more, I think there would have been no reason to remove you from your seat as king. There are some things in this world that remain sacred. Thing’s that must be protected. I chose those things, I chose my fight," said Ahgo

Myalor looked at Ahgo, a light in his eyes.

"I helped too much?"

"It's not your place to do the things that only your subjects can do. They need to see the world for themselves, hurt, then decide their answer. It's not for you alone."

Ahgo was looking out at the sunset. Myalor looked out over Hygea, and time passed.

"I got bullied by a troll! If I'm a broken player like you now, then maybe I'll report you to a game master!", he cackled.

"And not fight this battle yourself? Just who do you think you are?"

Myalor got up, wiping his eyes. A deep level of contemplation was ended, a new future rose in his mind. Whether he was wrong or not, he would not bother his friend with his worries now. There would be time enough later.

"A duel, Ahgo?"

Ahgo got up with a smile still holding his sword and made some space between them.

"I'm afraid I don't know what abilities he gave you, if any. You might just be a regular old man with no combat experience at this point. Honestly, that's no fun at all. He should have at least made you higher than my level to even up the contest," said Ahgo.

Myalor laughed.

"I'll accept my defeat. Only if I lose, though."

"Only if you lose."