Ex rank talent Awakening: 100\% Dodge rate-Chapter 311: BECOMING EMPEROR

"I’m sorry," Elizabeth murmured softly, her voice so faint it barely cut through the heavy quietude, her previously unassailable cold expression at last splintering apart as layers of profound guilt seeped in, gently easing the harsh contours of her regal face into something more vulnerable and human.

"Her death—it truly wasn’t my intention," she confessed, the admission hanging in the air like a fragile plea.

"All I ever wanted was to protect and save my people from the encroaching darkness that threatened to consume us all."

"Consider it a debt that’s been settled on your behalf, courtesy of Brian," Greg shot back tersely, purposefully averting his eyes from her face, directing his attention instead to some indistinct point in the gloom-shrouded corners of the vast hall, where dust motes danced lazily in the faint light.

Deep inside, a fierce and shadowy impulse raged unchecked within him, a visceral craving to swing his blade and sever Elizabeth’s head from her shoulders in a violent arc of bloody vengeance, but he clamped down on it with ironclad determination, all for the sake of Brian’s memory that lingered like a sacred vow.

He remembered it all too clearly: the way Brian had selflessly thrown himself into harm’s way to shield him during his regressed existence, and the devastating spiral into mad, uncontrollable frenzy that Brian had endured following Elizabeth’s demise in that timeline; these haunting recollections served as the unbreakable fetters restraining his hand from delivering the fatal blow.

Now, with the majestic throne standing empty before him, its intricate carvings of gold and ancient runes seeming to pulse faintly in the low light, Greg advanced with steady, purposeful strides and lowered himself onto it, adopting a posture that blended casual relaxation with an innate aura of commanding authority, his golden eyes remaining tranquil and composed amidst the suffocating hush that enveloped the entire court.

[You are sitting on the vacated throne you have conquered. Do you wish to claim the throne and become the emperor?]

Abruptly, a system prompt flickered into existence right before Greg’s line of sight, emanating a soft, otherworldly blue luminescence that cast ethereal glows across his features, persisting stubbornly in his peripheral vision like an insistent spectral message.

That singular objective had been the sole motivation behind his unyielding demand for the throne, nothing more, nothing less, in this pivotal instant of meticulously orchestrated supremacy and control.

[Yes/No]

Greg selected yes without a hint of hesitation, embracing the position of emperor as the system processed his choice in a seamless pulse of digital confirmation.

Elizabeth gazed at Greg intently, her regal features twisting into an expression of genuine surprise, for this was the first time such a prompt, typically visible only to players had manifested before her eyes in a shimmering overlay of ethereal text.

[Player Nemesis has chosen to claim the throne and become the new emperor, but he has decided to show you mercy.]

[He wishes to retain you as a duchess within his new empire.]

[Accept and serve under him.]

[Or reject, become a rebel, and fight him to the death.]

"What is this?" Elizabeth inquired of Greg, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and wary curiosity, as the glowing words hovered insistently in her vision like an uninvited specter.

"My last act of kindness and mercy toward you," Greg responded calmly, his posture relaxed on the throne as he awaited her decision, eager to proceed with his own pressing agenda without further delay.

"Do you think he will forgive me as well and accept me back?" Elizabeth asked, swallowing her once-unbreakable pride with visible effort, her throat tightening as vulnerability crept into her tone.

"I don’t know," Greg replied half-heartedly, his golden eyes drifting away indifferently, showing little investment in her personal turmoil.

"That’s something for the two of you to sort out on your own."

Drawing in a deep, steadying breath that seemed to draw from the depths of her resolve, Elizabeth made her choice, accepting her diminished role and agreeing to become the duchess under his rule, the weight of the decision settling over her like a heavy cloak.

[Congratulations! Elizabeth Grey has conceded the throne to you!]

[Congratulations! You have now become the emperor of the Grey Empire!]

[Worldwide announcement!]

[Player Nemesis has claimed the throne of the Grey Empire and has become the emperor!]

[Worldwide announcement!]

[Player Nemesis has claimed the throne of the Grey Empire and has become the emperor!]

[Worldwide announcement!]

[Player Nemesis has claimed the throne of the Grey Empire and has become the emperor!]

Greg absorbed the cascading system announcements with only partial attention, the repetitive chimes echoing faintly in his mind like distant thunder, his focus already shifting to more practical matters at hand.

Glancing at his coin balance through the interface, he felt a surge of satisfaction at the substantial stack accumulated there, gleaming digitally like a hoard of ancient treasures waiting to be spent.

True, Drakonix had stubbornly refused to relinquish his vast treasures, hoarding them with draconic greed, but Leviathan had proven to be a true gem of an ally, generously providing Greg with a bountiful amount of coins that now bolstered his resources immensely.

Armed with this wealth of coins, Greg navigated into the empire interface, a exclusive panel visible solely to him as a player and emperor, its holographic display unfolding before his eyes with intricate menus and glowing statistics.

[Grey Empire]

Rank: 3/5

Population: 14,607

Loyalty level of subjects: Negative. Rebellion might erupt at any moment.

Knights available: 1,047

Nobles: 1

States of necessary facilities:

Knight barracks: Terrible

Castle: Bad

Residency: Terrible

Castle walls and defense: Bad

Overall castle state: Bad

Greg skimmed over the dismal details without much concern, his impatience evident as he bypassed the litany of deficiencies that painted a picture of decay and neglect across the empire’s crumbling infrastructure.

He dove straight into the empire repair section of the interface window, its options lighting up invitingly like a marketplace of instant restoration.