Chapter 148: The King’s Decree
The purple beacon pulsed in the gray sky, a silent, arrogant declaration. Nox stood in the center of the now-quiet plaza, the weight of over a hundred Flags a tangible presence on his back. The remaining players, a scattered collection of wounded and terrified survivors, just stared at him. Their hunger for the Flags was still there, but it was now overshadowed by a primal, instinctual fear.
Elisa walked over, her warhammer resting on her shoulder, her face split by a wide, bloodthirsty grin. "Well, that was a hell of a party. What’s next on the agenda, boss?"
Mela appeared on a nearby rooftop, her needles a silent, silver halo around her. She just nodded at Nox, a new, undeniable respect in her eyes.
Serian stood beside him, her golden aura faded, her expression a mixture of awe and a deep, gnawing worry. "Nox, the beacon... everyone will come for you now. We must leave."
"Leave?" Nox let out a short, humorless laugh. "We’re not going anywhere."
He turned to face the scattered crowd of players. He raised his hand, and his voice, amplified by a touch of his own void energy, rolled across the plaza, cold and absolute.
"Listen up, you pathetic insects."
Every head snapped to attention.
"My name is Nox. And as of right now, I am the king of this city." He gestured to the bodies of the fallen guild members and the powerless Paladin. "This is what happens to those who challenge me. But I am in a generous mood."
He pointed a finger at the crowd. "You have a choice. You can keep fighting each other, scrambling for scraps like starving rats. You can come after my Flags and die a pointless, pathetic death." He paused, letting the threat hang in the air. "Or, you can serve me."
A murmur went through the crowd.
"Serve you?" a man with a horned helmet yelled out. "Why would we serve a human whelp like you?!"