The Shapeshifter - Chapter 23 Inheritance 2

“Do you want to become stronger?” The Scorpion Emperor asked again.

Alex’s mind was in a mess. There are things that he wanted to know as the bits and pieces of history was added.

“Wait. Can I ask you many questions first?” He had been wanting to ask questions ever since the scorpion man told him his story.

“Okay. Just ask me anything, slowly. Remember, slowly.” The Scorpion Emperor answered as if he was expecting Alex to ask a bunch of questions.

“First of all, did you really kill two of the three Kings of Humanity?” Alex wanted to know the answer to this question first, since he really liked the story of the three mortal brothers suddenly becoming Kings.

“Yes. Those two were corrupted beings. The older one slaved women, and used them for himself after, he would discard them or kill them. While the younger one was mad to the bones. He had been experimenting on live humans to achieve genetic mutations.”

“Then how did you become like that? Didn’t you and the former King ‘experimented’?”

“Yes we experimented, but it was of pure theory and test tubes and other apparatus.”

“By Emperor, do you mean above King stage Emperor? Are you not a King anymore?”

“I broke through, dozens of years ago.” The Scorpion Emperor said cooly as if it was a matter of fact.

“Woah! Then why aren’t you removing that dagger?”

“Oh this? Once I remove it, I would die.”

“Then ho-”

“System.” Alex’s words was cut short by the response of the Emperor.

“How are you supposed to make me stronger? You’re not the only one who has a system remember?”

“Indeed. You and I ‘both’ have a system.” The emperor emphasized the word ‘both’ when he spoke.

“Are you going to seize my system?” Alex asked. Once his system is taken, he would be saying goodbye to become a mage. He can only swing his sword like some kind of brute.

“Hehe.”

When Alex heard that laugh, it sent a shiver down his spine, as the hair in his body stood up.

It was like the laughter of a psychopath. His body trembled uncontrollably and his face paled.

“Hahaha!” This laugh was different than the previous one. He looked at the Emperor and saw that its pincer was holding into its tummy. Its back was also arched like shrimp.

“Haha. I was just messing with you. Look at you! You were so scared, haha.”

“Not cool!” Alex retorted. For a second, he really thought that his life would be over. He didn’t know that this guy was such a prankster.

“The dagger! Hey! Stop moving!” Alex quickly shouted as he noticed black blood and red blood coming out of the pierced area.

“You’re such a girl. Don’t worry about it. As for my question, do still want to become stronger?” The Emperor still asked Alex the same question. Although his voice seemed to have soften by a bit.

“Of course I want to be strong!” Who wouldn’t want to be strong in this era.

“Good answer. No matter what happens don’t pass out. You hear me?”

“Yes sir, I do hear you.” Alex looked into the eyes of the Emperor and noticed that it looked to be watery, like it was about to cry. He shrugged it off and thought that maybe he hasn’t adjusted to the darkness yet.

(A/N: Since the palace was underground, where were the lights.)

The Emperor stood up from his throne and walked towards him. He was awed by the majestic aura that swept towards him.

He took the handle of the dagger from his back and removed it easily. However his body collaped and he was now kneeling in front of Alex.

“Why?” Alex looked at the Emperor. He recalled that the emperor told him that he would die once he removed the dagger. Yet now, why was he looking for death?

“I already lived long enough. I cannot remember the faces of my family from neither Earth nor Terra. I am tired, too tired. That’s why when I chanced upon you, I felt happy.”

The Emperor whilst saying that, used his left pincer to grab his own heart out from his body.

“I hope that this dagger, will you help you in the future as well.” He cut his own heart by a third and stabbed it with the dagger. He then crushed his own heart and muttered words that Alex cannot understand.

Soon, the heart turned into countless sands and entered the orifices of Alex.

“Be careful of this dagger, it’s pretty poisonous, though I refined it for your use. It’s poisonous enough to kill a poisonous creature like me. Haha. Now, I give you, my inheritance!”

The Emperor that should’ve been dead when he removed his own heart was still able to talk. Just before his words ended, his body shrunk and his human form was revealed.

Before his face was completely returned to that of a human, he gave Alex the most kind-hearted smile he could do.

Alex, on the hand, cannot hear a single word that the Emperor has said as his orifices are being invaded by the sands.

However he was not dumb enough to not know what that smile meant.

He also flashed a smile. A smile that contained gratitude and a hint of sorrow. His eyes were unable to hold the tears from falling as he watched the Emperor’s body slumped down on the ground.