NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 46: The Cheaters’ Game
The Cheaters' Game
At the exact moment Valerius claimed his victory, he felt it—
Something dangerously insidious. Something so terrifying that it paralyzed every cell in his body.
It wasn't fear of death. It was worse. It was the dread of an imminent, devastating loss.
His instincts, his skills, his genius—everything screamed in perfect unison, sketching the next step in this wretched game inside his mind. "He was just playing. I defeated his puppet. Now he'll change the rules. He won't come at me directly again… he'll… he'll strike her!"
His body froze. The true threat wasn't waiting for him in this underground darkness anymore—it was miles away, outside, where Kalia—his strongest asset, his greatest treasure—sat unconscious, shielded by a barrier that would never be enough.
Valerius understood the Emperor's game now. This was not a battle of brute force—it was a battle of the mind. The Emperor would strip him of his support, isolate him, then savor watching him break apart.
There was no time left. No space for careful planning or cautious advance.
Every second that passed now brought Kalia closer to death.
At the moment Valerius realized Kalia was the true target, everything shattered—his cold logic, his tactics, the hard-earned wisdom of a century—they all vanished in an instant, replaced by raw, raging fear.
Arion? The secret talent? "Let it die!" his mind roared with primal fury. "I don't care—not if it costs her life!"
A rescue mission? He scoffed at the very thought as he turned.
A mission to save what? A mysterious boy? The future of the Empire?
"The hero's reputation?" a mocking echo in his mind.
"I don't care!"
"Arion's hidden gift?"
"I don't care!"
"Your duty as guild master?"
"I DON'T CARE! I DON'T CARE! I DON'T CARE!!!"
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White Madness
Valerius exploded—not as a commander, but as a terrified husband. He unleashed all his fighting power without restraint. His silver aura erupted around him like a miniature sun, turning his body into a living projectile.
He shot back through the dark tunnels at a speed he hadn't used even against the Emperor's avatar. He didn't dodge—he tore through obstacles. Stone walls that blocked his path shattered under his shoulders. Debris he once avoided was crushed under his feet.
Even if his aura ran dry—even if his muscles tore apart—he wouldn't stop. He wouldn't care. All that mattered was reaching Kalia before it was too late.
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The Emperor's Bewilderment
Meanwhile, the Emperor…
Seated on his throne of bone, the Emperor watched this sudden shift unfold with utter bewilderment.
"What? Why is he turning back so suddenly?" he muttered aloud. "Impossible. He couldn't have heard me order my new deputy—right? I just gave the command! No way it leaked! H-How… does he truly have some sixth sense tied to the one he loves?"
A flicker of irritation crossed the Emperor's face. This unexpected twist ruined his neat plan. But then he activated the Eye of Absolute Truth again—this time focusing not on Valerius's strength, but the emotional aura erupting from him.
What he saw made him laugh.
This wasn't the fear of losing an ally, or a support skill—nor was it the fear of losing a comrade-in-arms.
The blazing, tangled threads he saw… were pure, violent, desperate.
"Heeheehee… HAHAHAHA! Well, well—after peering deeper into this human… Heehee, these aren't feelings of loyalty. Not friendship. HAHAHA—yes, yes! These are feelings of love—strong, raw, and deeply entwined! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
He'd found his true weakness. He'd found this old warrior's Achilles' heel. The game had just become a thousand times more entertaining.
He fired his new order at the deputy, already on the move—this time, his voice wasn't playful. It was sharp and ravenous.
"Faster! Faster! Reach her NOW and end the witch—DO NOT FAIL ME! You must get there first, no matter what!!"
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A Race Between Love and Obedience
The race began.
Deep underground, Valerius was a storm of destruction, tearing through everything between him and the surface, his heart pounding wildly, every sense screaming Kalia's name.
On the surface, Kalia sat calmly inside her protective array, immersed in her spiritual link—completely unaware of the shadow streaking toward her.
And from another secret exit of the mine, the Emperor's new deputy emerged—moving with spectral speed, his dark green form merging with the forest shadows, eyes locked on a single goal: the source of that magical power pulsing faintly ahead.
He knew his master was watching.
He knew failure was not an option.
The distance shrank rapidly. Who would reach first? The husband fighting to save his love, or the monster fighting to prove its loyalty?
In the depths of Valerius's mind, time slowed to a crawl.
Blood boiled in his veins, his muscles burned with exhaustion, yet he felt no pain. All that mattered was that image in his mind: Kalia—weak, defenseless, in danger.
"Faster… faster…!"
Outside, the Emperor's deputy drew closer at terrifying speed—slashing through the forest like a poisoned arrow, ignoring everything else. Even the lurking beasts fled from his path, sensing the malevolence radiating from him.
Kalia came into view—sitting within a circle of light, eyes closed, lips moving softly as if whispering secrets to the unseen.
The deputy raised his hand—black energy pooling in his palm, ready to end it all with a single strike.
And in that exact instant—
The rock wall behind Kalia exploded.
And from it burst a silver phantom, roaring her name.
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Would Valerius make it in time?
Would Kalia survive?
And what would the Ghoul Emperor's next move be?
The final confrontation was about to begin…