novelraw Chapter 359: If I surrender now, is it too late?
Chapter 359: If I surrender now, is it too late?
Reflecting on his confrontations with Alexander, Kevin had a moment of dazed realization.
Was he really an undercover agent arranged by Alexander? Despite having his memories sealed, he remained loyal to his master and subconsciously did everything in his power to help him.
"I’ve been too damn dedicated!" At this moment, Kevin felt like shutting down, wishing he could open his brain to see if, instead of grey matter, there was just a lump of dung inside, perhaps even shaped into the words ’Loyal to Alexander.’
"Get it now?" Alexander patted Kevin’s shoulder warmly, saying, "We’re all brothers here, no need for killing. Come work with me!"
Kevin’s eyes suddenly opened wide, sparkling with insight. Just then, one of his brothers, Wangba, spoke up first, "Don’t even think about it! Our big brother is a mighty figure. He would rather die than submit to a scoundrel like you!"
"Right! You killed Yao, our brothers in arms! Our big brother would rather endure pain, itching, and all your tortures than recognize a villain like you as his father!"
The original subordinates of the Endless Abyss, and even those ghost soldiers who were coerced, looked at Kevin with newfound respect.
Kevin: "..."
What could he say? The mood had escalated to this point; it seemed there was only one choice – to nod reluctantly.
"Is that so? In that case, I can only oblige you," Alexander said, somewhat surprised at such a display of character. It wasn’t easy to find such resolve in a formidable figure like this. However, the most important issue at hand wasn’t those who refused to surrender but the trillion-strong army.
Alexander looked down at the ghost army below and announced loudly, "You bear no grudge against me. Lay down your weapons and surrender. Not only will I spare you, but you can also join the Dark Hell army and enjoy the same treatment!"
Clang! Clang! Clang! As Alexander’s words fell, a series of sounds of weapons being dropped echoed.
Of course, there were some who hesitated, perhaps thinking Alexander wouldn’t massacre hundreds of billions of people at once, so they didn’t surrender immediately.
Alexander didn’t force them. Intimidation was an inferior tactic that could leave hidden problems. He had a more direct approach. Casually pointing to his own army, he said, "Tell them, what’s it like to be in the Dark Hell army!"
"I joined the Fierce Ghost Association over three months ago. Before that, I was just a soldier-level ghost!" A man stepped forward, speaking from experience, surrounded by Imperial-level Ghost Energy.
Three months, from a soldier ghost to an Imperial? And he also possessed forbidden power!
"I joined Fierce Ghost Association a month ago! Before that, I was just at the evil spirit level!" Another person testified.
This was even more astonishing. In just two months, he had risen from evil spirit level to ghost king, also possessing forbidden power.
...
One Chosen One after another stood up, each more astonishing than the last, and all without exception possessed forbidden power. The allied army, stared with almost red eyes.
Then, a lowly wronged spirit stepped forward, drawing curious glances from the crowd. Everyone else had experienced significant power increases in just one or two months, but what could this mere wronged spirit have to say?
"I joined half a month ago, and my power hasn’t had time to increase yet, but..." the ghost civilian spoke confidently, "our lord has promised that we will all receive forbidden power!"
Everyone receiving forbidden power? This statement caused an uproar. Those allied soldiers who still held weapons dropped them immediately, as if they were hot irons, eagerly waiting to be recruited.
"And you too!" Alexander’s gaze turned to the Ghost Emperors, "Submit, and I promise to give you Ghost Pills, granting you forbidden power. Or you can leave now, I won’t stop you!" As Alexander’s gaze swept over them, each Ghost Emperor promptly dropped their weapons.
Those Ghost Emperors who had remained unmoved by Kevin’s pleas were now instantly swayed by Alexander’s offer. Forbidden power was too tempting!
Considering how rare it was – even scouring the entire Horror World yielded only a few – the prospect of earning forbidden power through Ghost Pills was irresistible.
Clang... Clang... The sound of weapons hitting the ground echoed. This time, not just the Ghost Emperors, but many from the ranks of the Endless Abyss also dropped their weapons, including several confidants of Bai.
"Scoundrels!" Bai, infuriated, glared at his former loyalists, shouting, "You ungrateful wretches! Several of our leaders died at his hands. Have you forgotten such deep hatred so easily?
How can you forget what Kevin did for you? Just because he promises forbidden power to everyone, you’re bought over? If he really could do that, wouldn’t he have done it for his own men first?"
Several of Bai’s confidants hung their heads in shame, yet they remained silent. Some were swayed by Bai’s words, looking doubtfully at Alexander. Despite Alexander’s numerous subordinates already possessing forbidden power, even more did not.
As Bai pointed out, if Alexander truly had the ability to grant forbidden power to everyone, why hadn’t he done so for his own men first?
Even if Alexander could mass-produce Ghost Pills, those who joined later might have to wait a long time to receive them.
Faced with the skeptical gazes of the crowd, Alexander spoke up without any fuss: "All Ghost Emperors who haven’t received forbidden power, come forward and gather!" Instantly, the entire ghost army became excited. Were they going to distribute Ghost Pills?
One after another, Ghost Emperors who had been coerced from various Ghost Realms stepped forward, looking at Alexander with anticipation.
"Um..." a hesitant Ghost Emperor from the Endless Abyss army asked, "Are we included too?"
"Of course!" Alexander nodded, and the Ghost Emperors were overjoyed, rushing forward. Without any extra actions or persuasive speeches, nothing was more tangible than the promise of forbidden power through Ghost Pills.
Alexander simply waved his hand, and countless Ghost Pills fell like raindrops, accurately landing in front of each Ghost Emperor.
"Forbidden! This is truly the power of forbidden!" one of the Ghost Emperors couldn’t wait to swallow a Ghost Pill and immediately roared with joy as the power of forbidden mixed with Ghost Energy surged out. Seeing this, everyone else quickly consumed the Ghost Pills in front of them.
"Damn! There are really so many Ghost Pills!" Bai was dumbfounded, and so was Kevin. Watching Alexander casually distribute tens of thousands of Ghost Pills, they lost any thought of resistance.
Clang... Another sound of weapons falling to the ground was heard. Alexander looked over and was surprised to see Bai. "Isn’t that Bai? Why did you throw away your weapon too?"
"Well... I was wondering, if I surrender now, is it too late?" Bai asked sheepishly.
It wasn’t just him; even Kevin’s resolve had faded. There was no point in holding out anymore. Apart from those absolutely loyal to Kevin through his talents, everyone else, including his subordinates, chose to surrender.
Kevin might have controlled tens of thousands of loyalists, but they were nothing compared to the entire assembly of ten trillion.
"It’s not too late, of course, it’s not too late!" Alexander said, welcoming all comers with a smile.
"Wait a minute!" interjected Full Moon, who had once been brainwashed, looking displeased, "Weren’t you determined to never surrender, to avenge Yao? Why have you changed your tune now?"
"Yao?" Bai turned to another leader, "Dominic, do you recognize these two? When did Endless Abyss get another person?"
"I’ve never heard of them!" Dominic immediately shook his head without hesitation. Such thick-skinned denial!
Full Moon, looking disdainful, turned to another Endless Abyss leader: "What about you? He’s supposed to be your brother, right?"
This leader clearly didn’t have the same level of audacity as the others; his face turned red with embarrassment and after a long pause, he stammered, "I... I... I had no choice, what you offered was just too much."