Chapter 85: The Marionette of Fake
The seal in Ru's eye began to spin rapidly, its glowing edges flickering brighter with each passing second. His vision blurred, and the space around him twisted like a reflection in water. He blinked, but the distortion only increased.
Suddenly the mirror in front of him flickered, the surface distorting until it no longer reflected the bathroom - no longer reflected him.
Instead, staring back at him was the silhouette of the genie.
At first, its shape was hazy, its outline flickering like a candle flame in the wind. Then, with a sudden clarity, the figure sharpened, filling the mirror. The genie's eyes gleamed with an eerie light, its expression unreadable, but there was no mistaking the power behind its gaze.
Ru's neural network twitched as the genie's presence choked the air around him.
"Finally," the Sultan's voice whispered, though its lips never moved.
Ru froze, his hands gripping the sink tightly, unable to look away. His breath caught in his throat. But something else caught his eye - something impossible.
Himself reflected in the mirror, the Ru calmly put his hand on the Sultan's shoulder.
Ru's blood ran cold. His reflection stood there, eyes devoid of emotion, as if he and the genie were somehow... allies.
"We managed to trick me, and it feels great," the reflection, the other Ru—one who wasn't Almighty—said, a sly smirk curling its lips. It spoke with a voice that was too familiar, yet distant, a tone that cut deeper because it was his own.
"There was no other way to deceive others. I'm glad you liked my method," the Sultan said, slowly opening and closing his eyes.
"The day your lightning burned Mr. Thargata to ashes, I was in awe of your methods," Ru said with a satisfied smile.
"I won't let anyone hurt you," the Sultan said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Ru's brows furrowed, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "Speaking of hurting..." He suddenly yanked his hand off the Sultan's shoulder and shot him a dirty look. "Never again will you blow my clothes off or come so close to me, even in a fictional vision shown to others."
"You were the one who prepared the plot. I just wanted to make it believable," The Sultan chuckled lightly, an almost condescending sound.
"I hope we managed to fool Misha," Ru muttered, his jaw clenched.
"I couldn't hold the Heise. If I had the strength..." The Sultan's expression shifted, his calmness unwavering, though a hint of frustration darkened his features.
"The goal from the beginning was to scare him, and I think we succeeded," Ru said, his voice flat, though a trace of doubt gnawed at the edge of his words.
"If you say so," the Sultan replied, his tone tinged with indifference.
Ru turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as his thoughts raced. "I need to get you into The House somehow... or I'll turn into Almighty Ru. But you know my desire—I want him to become me."
"Uh-huh," the Sultan grunted.
"But they must see me as a victim. By your plan, of course, wizard of wizards," Ru said as thoughts swirled.
"I have made some progress because you reminded me, I am a powerful sorcerer. But you know that my powers are incomplete without my name," the Sultan said, gently.
"You aren't just a sorcerer. You're exactly a wizard. You can control all the forces outside of you, as inside your magical being," Ru said, his lips twitching into a faint smile.
The Sultan's eyes flickered with a strange mix of pride and humility. "I hope you're not exaggerating me."
"I think so, or I hope so," Ru replied, his gaze distant. "There are some crumbs from the past, but you know Almighty Ru is getting in the way... because I am your slave..."
The Sultan exhaled, "I'm hoping that's misinformation," his voice low and measured.
"Either I was a slave, or I wasn't. This part of the past won't keep me alive. All that matters is that Almighty Ru turns into me," Ru said through gritted teeth.
"The Witch and I will do our best," the Sultan reassured him.
"Witch?" Ru's brow furrowed. "You tricked her—she thinks you're dead. She said 'Officer dead.'"
"She must have said that to mislead her stalkers as you walked down the hall," the Sultan said, his tone matter-of-fact.
"I'll see if Almighty Ru's enemies are my friends," Ru nodded absently.
"Now, let's get to work, if you will - at least before you give your blood to Lady Moni," the Sultan said, looking sharp.
Ru's mind snapped back to the present. He took a deep breath, shaking off the tension. "Tell me what you want me to do."
"Show me your game card," the Sultan said, his tone carrying the weight of a command.
Ru hesitated, his fingers twitching slightly. "Will you enter the game as an ancient spirit?"
"No," the Sultan replied, his voice a dark whisper.
"Then why do you want to see the card?" Ru narrowed his eyes.
"Just do as I say," the Sultan responded firmly.
Even though Ru who was in front of the mirror and the position of an observer, was in a state of self-control, his body was in motion on its own. His fingers searched his pocket until he found the cool, smooth surface of the puppet card. Slowly, almost unconsciously, he pulled it out and stared at it for a long time.
"We didn't agree to this," Ru murmured under his breath, eyes locked on the Sultan. "But okay."
As he extended the card toward the mirror, the surface of the glass began to ripple like water. The faint glow of the card intensified, casting long shadows across the room. The mirror trembled, and then, as if being painted by an unseen hand, the reflection began to change.
Soft strokes of gold and silver formed the outline of a vast courtyard, each detail emerging with slow, deliberate precision. First, marble columns appeared, tall and imposing, their surfaces shimmering as if made of liquid gold. The sky above the courtyard was brilliant dusk, the sun just dipping below the horizon, casting the palace in warm, golden hues.
Ru's breath caught in his throat as the scene unfolded. Trees of silver leaves swayed gently in a breeze he couldn't feel. Fountains flowed with molten gold, the liquid sparkling under the fading sunlight. The palace in the distance loomed large, its towers reaching high into the sky, majestic and ancient.
Finally, standing at the center of it all, the Sultan emerged—fully formed, bathed in the golden light of his palace. His eyes gleamed as he examined the card now in his hand.
"Good," the Sultan said, his voice reverberating with authority as the card dissolved into the mirror’s shimmering surface. "Now, we can begin."
Ru’s reflection smirked, standing side by side with the Sultan, eyes glinting. "I want to see what you'll do," he said, his voice steady but laced with a growing tension.
The Sultan gave a slow, confident smile. "I've already done it."
Ru blinked, confusion flickering in his expression. "I don’t understand."
The Sultan’s hand swept through the air, motioning toward the vast courtyard before them. "Look in my mirror," he said, gesturing to the pool of crystal-clear water that spanned the center of the courtyard.
Ru hesitated but stepped forward, keeping his gaze fixed on the water's calm surface. Looking into the pool's depth, he saw himself—back in the bathroom, holding the puppet card in his hand.
Ru’s breath hitched. "Am I?" His voice wavered as he instinctively clutched at his chest. "Am I here or there?"
"You are both here and there," the Sultan replied, his laughter low and unsettling, echoing across the courtyard.
A chill ran down Ru's spine. "But when I enter The House, I will die and transmigrate. This situation is risky for me," he said, his voice rising with worry.
The Sultan’s eyes gleamed with amusement. "You will leave, yes. But the card will remain. One card for the new player, one card for me, and now... a second card for you." With a smooth motion, the Sultan handed the fresh card to Ru.
Ru’s heart skipped a beat. The moment, he touched the card, an inexplicable coldness seeped into his fingertips. His breath caught as the card’s surface seemed to pulse with life. Letters once blurred and indecipherable, began to form in the flickering light.
"The Marionette Of Fake," Ru muttered, his brow furrowing as he read the title aloud. His eyes traced the changing script below.
Character Name: ???
Player: ???
Class: ???
Profession: ???
Age: ???
"Useless," Ru sneered, disdain flashing across his face. "It says it’s fake."
The Sultan’s gaze never wavered. "Don’t be so quick to dismiss it. I will work on it."
A strange light illuminated the Sultan’s eyes, casting a glow that reflected onto the card. Its surface shimmered, the question marks twisting and shifting, reshaping into variable letters.
Ru’s heart quickened as he watched, his curiosity overtaking his doubt. "Try it," he said, the excitement creeping into his voice as his eyes locked onto the evolving card.
Suddenly, Ru felt a sharp, cold grip tightening around his arms. His pulse spiked. His eyes darted to his arms, expecting to see something—someone—but they were bare. Panic flared as he glanced toward the Sultan, who remained focused on the card, seemingly unaware of Ru’s distress.
Ru’s body jerked, an unnatural tremor coursing through him. His breath came in short gasps, his voice barely a whisper. "What... what is happening to me?" His question hung in the air, fear gripping him as his entire body trembled with a force he couldn't control.
The Sultan’s gaze shifted, his lips curling into a slow, dark smile.
"Welcome, my quest."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone