Author Comment: I want to thank my Beta-reader FollowerOfAnhamirak for his time on this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.
Kaz was nervous, but for him, it felt like an understatement. Chaor was his hero, but he knew the ruler of the Underworld could be brutal and mercilessly when he felt like it. The boy was holding back the desire to mutter something as the creature's hand was gripping his wrist a little too tightly. He wanted to say something, but considering the situation he was, Kaz kept silent.
Chaor looked around and once he was sure they were alone, he released Kaz's wrist and grunted, "There. No one is watching us."
The boy nodded, not wanting to tell him that the Codemasters probably had an eye on them. There were surely cameras everywhere, but they just couldn't see them. Instead, he went straight to the subject at hand, "You know I can't say more Lord Chaor, so what is it then?"
The red creature gazed at the other humans and creatures around. He saw Takinom watching around, just in case the other creatures tried to approach them. The good thing was that the Mipedians couldn't turn invisible here. He crossed his arms and looked at the boy, "It's about what might happen in Chaotic."
None of them said anything. It was clear for both of them what he meant.
Chapter 60: A Ruler Order
"You talk about the M'arrillians who are planning to attack here? Tom and I just warned the Codemasters about this," Kaz told them as he crossed his arms. He gazed a little at the side for a few seconds before turning back into the blue eyes of the Underworlder.
"Yes. We don't have a lot on them, but it's clear they are ready to send their army here to reach the Cothica," Chaor turned away for a bit, grumbling something about Theb-Saar getting ahead of them.
Kaz grew a little nervous and adjusted his glasses, "So… What is it then?"
"From now on Kazzy, you will not go anywhere except Underworld City, when you leave this place." His claw poking the chest of the boy. It was a clear order and one he probably shouldn't ignore. Pausing to make sure Kaz understood Chaor added, "Because many of my soldiers and spies spotted M'arrillians starting to go outside of the Deep Ocean. I know they are hunting you just like your friend Tom."
"Listen, I can port out if I am in any trouble," Kaz replied as he showed his scanner.
"What about your friend Tom? Did he get caught by them?" Chaor emphasized Tom's name, a note of disdain in his voice as he said it.
Kaz knew that his hero clearly didn't like anyone who took sides with Maxxor, "W-well…," he had nothing to say to that; Chaor was right, "I can't just go there and not get any important scan for the-."
"Screw this little game. You know it is dangerous to go around everywhere anymore. I will not let the M'arrillians get anything over me. I will do anything to stop them from reaching the Cothica." His muscles inflated a little, "The Underworld shall be the tribe who reached it."
Kaz didn't want to protest and so he simply sighed, "Fine."
"And only Underworld City," Chaor reminded him.
"Yeah," Kaz said casually, not giving it much thought. After all, Chaor couldn't see everything.
"If I learn that you went anywhere else, I'll make sure you are locked up either in my dungeon or in the pit," he poked the boy hard enough that the human took a step back, "Understand?" He noticed the skin of the boy paled a little.
"Y-yes Lord Chaor," Kaz quickly replied. Still, he didn't want to back down.
He noticed that the boy seemed ready to make his protest somehow, "I will not let anyone use you against me." The ruler of the Underworld added as he looked around and saw no one approaching, "Especially the M'arrillians."
Kaz decided to insist on the matter, "I can't just not go there. I'm not going anywhere on my own, you know Chaor. I'm going with my friends. We aren't trying to get caught by them."
Chaor threw the human a threatening glare, "I am the ruler of the Underworld Kaz. You will do as I say." He poked the boy's chest again for emphasis, "My threat is serious. You do what I say. The M'arrillians are after you and your friends. You know what you are for us. Agitos told you what you already knew," he frowned as his face was an inch from the boy.
Kaz sighed as he crossed his arms. He looked away from the blue eyes of the creature, "I guess I just have to avoid going to the Underworld anymore."
He did everything to hold back at the stubbornness of the human. His Kazzy was talking to him like that. He didn't hate it, but it was enraging. The situation was catastrophic and this was the worst kind of attitude to have right now. He would have been a little proud in any other situation, "And when you port back here, I will know and find a way to personally take you to the pit Kaz. This isn't a game. Your Chaotic game is over. You know what is about to happen soon right?"
Kaz eye twitched. He was starting to get a little annoyed, "The M'arrillians are planning to attack Chaotic. So, what is the point of keeping me in the pit?" The big creature was his hero, but never going anywhere with his friends, especially his childhood friend Tom, was out of the question.
The ruler saw that he was hitting a wall. That question made some sense. No matter where he was, he would be in trouble, "Kazzy." He waved his hand in front of the boy. He checked anywhere else. No one was coming and humans seemed to be keeping their distance, "don't be an idiot."
The boy was expecting more than that. It seemed that something else was slowly going on, "I am not an idiot. I have good grades in my school and we handle ourselves in Perim for a long time."
"You are an idiot," Chaor sighed, before looking at the boy, "Right. You aren't really safe anywhere in Perim and in Chaotic." He grunted, his voice filled with determination, "Listen Kazzy. There is something important you have to promise me. No matter what, you have to promise me that and hold that promise. This is one is extremely important," he put his hand on the boy's shoulder. It was a strong grip, but he made sure it wasn't too strong. He took a deep breath, "Again. No matter what."
The Chaotic Player wasn't certain what to say anymore. He had little to say. Chaor had never been like that. He was confused and uncertain of what to do. He sighed. He had to know what the creature expected to him, "What do you want me to promise?"
"If anything is going bad, if the M'arrillians might manage to find a way to The Cothica. You will have to guide us there." Chaor said, his voice solemn.
Kaz didn't know what to say. That promise was against everything he agreed with his friends, "W-why?"
Chaor grunted as his muscles tensed, "Because I will never let those creatures reach the Cothica. You have to promise me this."
The player wanted to say no. There was no reason to agree with that. The chances that the M'arrillians might reach the Earth were practically zero. He crossed his arms and looked at his friends. If he made it, he would have to say that he made it. He couldn't hide it. Kaz couldn't accept that promise. He raised his eyes and met the blue eyes of the ruler of the Underworld. The mind of the boy worked on overdrive. There was something tipping on his mind. There was something there. The way Chaor asked it and what he asked. He knew that the creature wouldn't ask for a promise, but would bark an order.
"Answer me dammit!" He was getting impatient with the boy.
Kaz realized what was going on. There was something unsaid by the large creature. There was a reason why he asked for a promise. It wasn't just an excuse to reach the Earth. After all, if the M'arrillians reached his world, he was in danger. Chaor was worried for his safety. Not just this code, but his real self. Of course, he would never say that in words. That would have been out of character. Still, the implication was a little touching, "Fine Chaor. I'll promise to 'try' and help you if the M'arrillians are here and might search around."
Chaor let out a small smile. He stood up in his almighty size and replied, "That's smart Kazzy."
"And my friends will be pissed at me, but I have to tell them," Kaz added.
"And that's stupid Kazzy," he frowned and his expression was back to his normal self, "Don't say anything to them. They will force you to break your promise."
"I…I can wait until it gets serious," Kaz sighed. They would be that pissed at him. He would just wait until it got really bad, if it happened, to help Chaor.
"Good. That's all."
The boy nodded as they returned to the others. He could see his friends and mother worried for him. Kaz had an inexpressive face. He could tell his mother. Chaor didn't ask or order that. He wondered if she would say anything after that. She had no obligation to keep that a secret compared to him. The player realized that he was a little evil to use such loophole to tell his friends, if his mother said anything on Earth. He couldn't leave his friends hanging in the dark.
"Are you okay?" Tom asked as glanced at Chaor.
"I'm fine. Nothing bad," Kaz replied, smiling a little. He crossed his arms and said, "Nothing that important," he shook his head and corrected himself, "Sorry. I mean it's about the possible attacks of the M'arrillians that would come. He ordered me to just be here or in Underworld City."
Chaor grumbled and muttered, "And he said no."
Sarah heard it and smirked, "Looks like he got the better of you."
The blue eyes of the creature turned towards the female human who had insulted him.
Cassandra tried to diffuse the situation, "I think he is taking a little out of you. He has been getting more assertive for a while now." She frowned, "As long as he doesn't turn into a brute like you, I won't do anything."
The ruler of the Underworld noticed that the woman's warning was real. He now knew where the boy took some of his interesting behavior from.
"Anything else bro?" Peyton asked, "Because you were on your secret spot for a long time. Hope it's not something too juicy."
"Of course not!" Kaz's face turned a little red at the implication. He knew it wasn't serious at all, but the word juicy didn't go well with him. That was lost on the creature himself though. He thought it was probably for the better.
Chaor crossed his arms and wondered if his Kazzy would spill the beans. Chaor could only guess that it might come. Still, the boy promised it and he would remember him to keep it in the future.
He decided to leave, there was nothing else. He did notice the Messenger coming back towards them.
"Alex. How did it go?" The woman asked.
"It was fine. They wanted to make sure that the M'arrillians wouldn't get me. It was a really weird experience I do not want to share," Alexandre replied.
The Underworlder walked away after hearing that. It was some good news that the Messenger of the Cothica had a means to escape them if they got him. Even if few creatures really talked with the man, even he had to admit that there was something off about him now. It was mostly because of what they knew and what he did.
The Underworld wouldn't be under his tribe's control if it weren't for that man. Chaor wouldn't let anyone bring harm the Messenger.
AC: This is the end of this chapter. As for when the beginning of the Arc would end, it might start around chapter 65 to 70. It might be more or less. They are a few things to finish planning for the show down.
Next: Hunt In The Desert.
The M'arrillians are getting more dangerous as time passed. One of them picked Peyton as a target. The boy couldn't escape without his scanner.
