The Scum Emperor's Redemption System - Chapter 107

Chapter 107: Paradox (5)
Argider gasped, her hands flying to her face. “No way! That’s Gander! They’re gonna—oh my gods, they’re gonna behead him! I mean, sure, he’s kind of a tyrant, but still—”

The executioner, a burly man with a hood and a disturbingly casual attitude, raised his axe. “Any last words, you pompous snake?”

Gander looked up, his voice trembling but still managing to sound haughty. “You’ll regret this! My legacy will live on! My—”

THWACK!

The axe came down, cutting his words—and his head—short. The crowd erupted in cheers, tossing flowers and coins at the executioner like he’d just performed a particularly impressive magic trick. Gander’s severed head rolled a little too close to Argider’s feet for comfort. She yelped, jumping back as if it might bite her.

“WHAT THE—WHY IS THIS SO DETAILED?!” Argider shrieked, her voice cracking. She held her hands out as if to ward off the horrifying sight. “Why do I have to see the physics of the decapitation?! This is a memory, not a 4D horror movie!”

The head settled awkwardly, its lifeless eyes staring directly at her. Argider gagged. “Nope, nope, nope! I didn’t sign up for this level of realism! I want a refund on this skill! Alvator, get me out of here before I throw up in someone’s fantasy world!”

But the vision didn’t stop. The crowd began chanting Elira’s name, raising her up like a savior of the people. She stood atop a makeshift platform, her voice carrying above the chaos.

“This is justice!” Elira declared, her voice fierce. “For every life stolen, for every family destroyed. This is for us! The oppressed will rise, and the empire’s corruption will fall!”

Argider blinked, slack-jawed. “Okay, wow. She’s terrifyingly charismatic. Like, should I be impressed or scared for my life right now? Both? Yeah, probably both.”

Argider’s breaths came in rapid bursts as the flames danced around her, the grotesque cheers of the crowd ringing in her ears. Suddenly, a shimmer of light formed beside her, and Alvator materialized, his arms crossed and his usual air of smugness dialed up to maximum.

“Oh, fantastic!” Argider cried, flailing her arms. “You’re here! Please, for the love of all that’s holy, how do I end this?!”

Alvator gave her an unimpressed look, gesturing lazily toward Elira, who was still commanding the attention of the frenzied crowd. “Simple. To break the connection, you have to reach her and touch her.”

Argider gawked. “Touch her?! That’s your big solution?! You mean to tell me I have to wade through this literal nightmare fuel of a crowd to reach her?!”

“Precisely,” Alvator replied, grinning as though he were enjoying her distress. “Good luck.”

Before Argider could protest further, she felt the air shift. Slowly, unnaturally, every head in the crowd swiveled in her direction. Their faces were no longer human; dark, shadowy figures with glowing, twisted grins and hollow, oozing eyes stared at her. Their shapes writhed unnervingly, as though their bodies were made of thick, tar-like smoke.

“Oh… oh no,” Argider whispered, backing up. “Nope. Nope. Nope! I don’t do horror movie extras! Alvator, do something! You’re the spirit guide—guide me the hell out of here!”

The crowd let out a low, guttural hiss, stepping toward her in unison. Argider’s back hit a charred wall, her laugh coming out high-pitched and awkward. “Uh, hi there! Let’s all just calm down, okay? I’m not here to start any trouble. I’m just, uh, passing through—”

A familiar voice rang out, cutting through the cacophony. “Argider?”

Argider froze as Elira’s sharp gaze locked onto her. The vision of Elira, with fire in her eyes and vengeance in her voice, was even more unnerving than the mob. Elira’s expression twisted in confusion for a moment, then shifted to something much darker.

“Seize her!” Elira commanded, pointing at Argider with a finger that seemed to carry the weight of the entire rebellion.

The shadowy figures hissed as one, and without warning, they surged toward Argider.

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” Argider screamed, flailing wildly as she dodged the first lunging figure. “Why does everything in my life want to kill me?! Alvator, you could’ve warned me! You could’ve—AAAAH!”

“This is part of the process,” Alvator said with maddening calm, floating above the chaos. “Now, hurry. If you don’t reach her in time, you’ll be stuck here forever. Or, you know, eaten alive. Whichever comes first.”

Argider ducked and rolled, barely missing a clawed swipe from one of the shadowy figures. “YOU COULD BE HELPING RIGHT NOW!”

Alvator smirked. “And deprive you of this character-building experience? Perish the thought.”

Argider’s chest heaved as the shadowy mob crept closer, their grotesque faces oozing malice. Her back pressed against the burning wall as she glanced up at Alvator, who was casually floating above the chaos, picking his teeth with a glowing shard of… something.

“Hey! Since you’re so helpful,” Argider snapped, “how about actually doing something other than judging me?!”

Alvator smirked, his sharp teeth catching the light. “Why should I? You’re perfectly capable. Besides, you can use magic here.”

Argider blinked, stunned. “Wait, I can use magic?! Here?!” She glanced at her hands, already feeling the tingle of mana pooling at her fingertips. Her eyes lit up with excitement. “Oh, it’s over for you freaky shadow people now!”

She raised her hands dramatically, summoning her first spell. “Alright, time for some lightning bolt!”

Sparks flickered feebly at her fingertips, fizzing out almost as quickly as they appeared. One of the shadowy figures paused, tilting its head like a confused dog.

Argider laughed nervously. “H-Hang on, I just need to—uh—recharge! Yeah, recharging! Don’t come any closer!”

The mob, unimpressed, lunged forward.

“OH NO, OH NO, NOT LIKE THIS!” Argider yelped, ducking beneath a clawed swipe and scrambling to her feet. “Fine! Plan B! Let’s bring the fireworks!”

She extended her hands again, summoning a burst of flame. A tiny ember the size of a match head sputtered out, floating harmlessly onto the ground.

“Seriously?!” Argider groaned, stomping her foot. “Why is my magic still so pathetic?!” She jumped back as another shadowy figure swung at her. “You’re supposed to make me look cool!”

Alvator, hovering serenely above the chaos, chuckled. “You’re adorable when you try.”

“Oh, shove it!” Argider snapped before throwing her entire weight into a desperate punch. Her fist went straight through a shadowy figure, which exploded into smoky wisps.

She was stunned, staring at her fist. “Wait… that worked?”