NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 731: Not Worth My Attention
Villain Ch 731. Not Worth My Attention
The Emperor's eyes bore into them with a chilling intensity, sending shivers down their spines. "That's not your decision," he spat, his voice dripping with malice. "But mine," he declared, his tone as cold as ice.
James gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on his weapon as he stared down the Emperor. "Like hell it is," he shot back, his voice filled with defiance. "You think you can just waltz in here and call the shots? Think again."
At the same time, Sophia's frustration boiled within her as she watched the Emperor's cruel display unfold before her eyes. The Emperor's actions were despicable, but what grated on her even more was his blatant disregard for her own abilities and achievements.
The fact that the Emperor had singled out Father^Alex, claiming that he had escaped from him the day before, struck a nerve with Sophia. As a healer herself, she knew how difficult it was to evade capture when targeted. The Emperor's words implied that Father^Alex was somehow more skilled or capable than her.
Also, about Elio. The Emperor had spoken of Elio clearly, acknowledging his actions and his role in the events that had unfolded. Yet, there was no mention of her. It was as if she was invisible, insignificant in the Emperor's eyes.
Sophia refused to accept this. She refused to let the Emperor diminish her accomplishments or overlook her contributions. She had worked hard to hone her skills, to become a valuable member of her guild, and she was not about to let that be overshadowed by anyone.
With a steely glint in her eye, Sophia tightened her grip on her staff, her resolve hardening. She would make sure that the Emperor acknowledged her presence, that he recognized her as a force to be reckoned with.
Sophia felt frustration bubbling up inside her as she prepared to speak up, but before she could utter a word, the Emperor cut her off once again.
"Of course I can. See you another time," he declared, his gaze lingering on Noah and James as if they were the only ones worth his attention. Sophia clenched her jaw, her irritation was clear.
Without bothering to spare her another glance, the Emperor opened a portal behind him, a swirling vortex of darkness that seemed to swallow him whole. With one final smirk, he vanished into the unknown, leaving Sophia seething with anger and resentment.
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"No way," she muttered under her breath, her hands balling into fists at her sides. It was bad enough that the Emperor had ignored her once again, but to dismiss her so easily and leave without a second thought was a slap in the face.
Once the Emperor vanished through the portal, the swirling vortex of darkness began to shrink and fade, gradually dissipating until there was nothing left but empty air. With his departure, the oppressive atmosphere that had hung over the clearing lifted, and the fiery circle that had served as the stage for their confrontation began to slowly fade away.
The flames receded, cracks and charred areas were left behind. The ground beneath their feet bore the scars of battle. But just as quickly as it had appeared, the circle of fire vanished, leaving behind only the faint scent of smoke and the echo of distant screams. For a brief moment, everything seemed to return to normal as if nothing had ever happened.
Father^Alex, Red_King, and Mastercraft's bodies also disappeared. It was a sign that they had returned to their safe point.
Mila let out a long exhale of relief as the Emperor's presence faded away, the tension in her body releasing all at once. She leaned against her brother for support, her legs feeling weak beneath her. Noah turned to her immediately, his eyes filled with concern.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft with worry. Noah knew that Mila wasn't a seasoned gamer like him and Allen. She played the game because of them, not out of a deep love for gaming. The sudden appearance of the Emperor must have been terrifying for her.
"Kinda," Mila replied, her voice shaky as she tried to calm herself. She knew she needed to stay strong, especially with Noah and the others looking out for her.
"You look pale. Haven't you seen the Emperor before? In the footage," James chimed in, his tone mirroring Noah's concern.
"I did," Mila admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But seeing him on video and seeing him in person are two completely different things." In the footage she had seen, the Emperor had looked normal, not bathed in blood like he had been. The sight had shaken her to her core.
"He's just a character in the game. A monster. Don't think too much about it," James said, his voice gentle but firm. He knew that Mila wasn't as accustomed to the dangers of the game world as he and the others were, and he wanted to ease her worries as best he could.
Mila nodded, though the fear still lingered in her eyes. She knew that James was right—that the Emperor was just a fictional character—but the terror of the encounter was still fresh in her mind.
Noah shifted the conversation to Elio, another player who had been mentioned by the Emperor. "Yeah, I'm thinking more about Elio. Sophia had problems with him, and now the Emperor clearly announced that he was targeting her. Poor guy," Noah said, shaking his head in sympathy.
James leaned in closer to Noah, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't think it will be a problem," he said quietly. "Look around you. They're talking about us. The Emperor mentioned us, about Elio to be precise."
Noah's eyes widened as he followed James's gaze, scanning the faces of the other players gathered around them. He could hear the murmur of their voices, the snippets of conversation that hinted at the Emperor's mention of Elio, the Order of Valiance, and the other players who had been targeted.
"Damn..." Noah muttered under his breath, his brows furrowed in surprise. He hadn't expected that a simple incident like their encounter with the Emperor would cause such a stir among the players.
"And look who's upset," James chimed in, shooting a glance at Sophia, who stood nearby, her expression tense with frustration.
"It seems the Emperor is helping us," Noah said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper as he processed the situation.
"Yeah," James agreed, his voice low as he mulled over Noah's words. It was true—the Emperor's unexpected appearance had certainly diverted the players' attention away from the guild and their recent troubles.
"What a nice coincidence," Noah remarked with a smirk, breaking the tension with a hint of sarcasm.
"Yeah… nice coincidence…" James echoed, his mind still reeling with thoughts. But as he considered the events, a nagging suspicion began to gnaw at him. Was this really just a coincidence, or was there something more going on?
The timing of the Emperor's appearance seemed too perfect to be random. It was almost as if the game itself was orchestrating events to protect the guild from the rumors and scrutiny that had been swirling around them.
'Or maybe…the game developer uses A.I. that could detect rumors too?' James thought, his mind racing with possibilities. If that were true, it would certainly be a fascinating development. The idea that the game could adapt and respond to player behavior in real-time was both thrilling and unsettling.