The Ethermal Chronicles-Chapter 11: The Robotic Emperor

Aron stood staring at the grandiose, towering door before him, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and growing irritation.

"All this... just for an old man meditating?" Aron muttered under his breath, eyeing the massive structure in front of him.

He stepped forward and touched the door. It felt smooth, ancient, yet remarkably sturdy.

"This door doesn't look like it's aged a day," he remarked, running his fingers over its majestic surface.

Lost in the sensation, he suddenly remembered his purpose. How do I open this thing? he thought, scanning for any clues.

Then, his gaze landed on the two massive handles, gleaming in the dim light.

Curious, he walked up and tried to push open the door, but it didn't budge.

The handles aren't for opening it, Aron thought, scratching his head in confusion.

He tried using his bloodline power to force the door open. The effort was fruitless.

Frustrated, he scrutinized the handles, top to bottom, but found nothing unusual.

"What's going on?" Aron muttered to himself, growing more irritated with each passing second.

Next, he activated his King Symbol and tattoo. Flames enveloped him, and he conjured a fiery fist. He slammed it into the door, but the flames scattered harmlessly across its surface.

His face twisted in annoyance. He glanced at the door, his frustration mounting.

Then, his eyes caught a hole, large enough for his palm.

This must be what I missed, Aron thought, a spark of excitement lighting up his face. He walked toward it with anticipation.

I wonder what my father looks like in person, he mused, momentarily distracted.

He placed his right hand into the hole, but nothing happened. Quickly, he switched to his left hand—but again, nothing changed.

His hope, excitement, and thoughts vanished into nothingness.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Aron exclaimed, visibly frustrated.

"That wasn't what opened the door," he added, exhaustion creeping into his voice. How do I open this door?

Meanwhile, Zelda stood, her eyes wide in shock as she faced her attackers. Her heart sank as she looked at the Robotic Emperor.

"What are you doing, Robotic Emperor?" Zelda asked, her voice trembling with confusion. "Why are you attacking me?"

The figure in the distance, resembling a cyborg, grinned at her.

"Isn't it obvious, Zelda?" the Robotic Emperor's voice rang out, laced with excitement. "You're a target now."

Zelda's expression hardened, her poker face in place. "I don't know what gives you the courage to attack my domain," she muttered, glaring at both Baal and the Robotic Emperor.

Before she could fully process the situation, a feminine voice echoed in her mind.

"Looks like you're in a tight spot, Zelda," the voice teased.

Zelda ignored the spirit's taunt, her mind already calculating her next move.

Her heart sank again. I never expected...

Before she could finish her thought, Baal appeared beside her with a swift kick, sending her flying through the air.

Still reeling from the sudden strike, Zelda wasn't quick enough to react.

"You shouldn't be so careless in a situation like this," Baal taunted, his voice dripping with malice.

A figure suddenly appeared above her, smiling triumphantly. The Robotic Emperor swung his sword down toward Zelda.

But Zelda reacted at the last possible moment, dodging just enough to create some distance between herself and the Robotic Emperor.

"That was close," she muttered, breathing heavily.

The Robotic Emperor clicked his tongue in frustration, seeing his prey slip away.

"I can't believe I missed my chance to kill her," he grumbled in annoyance.

"You're pathetic," Baal sneered, appearing beside the Robotic Emperor. "Now, try not to miss next time."

Zelda noticed the cuts and bruises that were slowly healing on her body. A sigh of frustration escaped her lips.

"Why the long face?" the ice spirit suddenly interjected, its voice dripping with mockery. "Why not just go all out?"

Zelda gritted her teeth. "Not like it'll make a difference."

The spirit, now sounding a bit more reluctant, responded, "If I'm going to die, I want to die at my best."

Zelda's eyes, once clouded with uncertainty, regained their steely resolve.

"Let's do this," she said with newfound conviction.

Ice began to gather around her, cocooning her in a blizzard-like aura. With a sudden burst, it exploded outward.

Baal watched in growing amusement, sensing the change in Zelda's aura.

Zelda, now exuding an air of power and focus, appeared as if she were a queen about to engage in battle.

Baal smirked, his eyes gleaming. "Even with all this, your queenly demeanor won't save you. You're still going to die today."

Zelda's expression remained unchanged, her eyes cold as ice.

"Tough and resilient, I'll give you that," Baal conceded mockingly. "But since you've decided to appear as a queen, I suppose I should upgrade my appearance too."

Baal's body began to shift and distort. His once-human form morphed into something far more sinister. Horns sprouted from his head, his muscles bulged unnaturally, and a long, spiky tail emerged from his back. His sharp canine teeth were now fully visible.

The transformation was terrifying, like night turning into day. His aura thickened, growing darker and heavier.

Zelda's helmet concealed her expression, but her eyes grew colder, her resolve hardening as she took in the sight of Baal's transformation.

Is this where it ends? she thought, her gaze briefly flickering to the Robotic Emperor. At least I'll die fighting.

Her tattoos began to glow with a brilliant icy blue light, and her eyes mirrored the same hue, now void of pupils.

She exhaled sharply, a chilling breath of ice escaping from her lips.

"Feels good," Baal said, grinning from ear to ear as he reveled in his new power.

Zelda's movements became precise, deliberate. As she struck, Baal's grin widened—he was faster than she expected.

Before she could fully react, Baal appeared in front of her and threw a punch.

Zelda, still maintaining her cool, dodged just in time, but Baal's speed had caught her off guard.

Boom!

An explosion of ice erupted upon the impact of her punch, sending shards scattering.

When the ice settled, Zelda saw that her punch had connected with Baal's head, but he barely flinched. A thin layer of ice cracked and shattered across his face.

Zelda's frown deepened, but she didn't falter. She kept up the relentless assault, throwing punch after punch at him.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

One fist aimed for his abdomen, but Baal caught her arm mid-swing.

"Now's your chance," he said, his voice cold and calculating, motioning toward the Robotic Emperor.

The Robotic Emperor, seeing the opening, moved in swiftly, his sword raised high to strike Zelda's neck.