Tyrant is the magnum opus of Director. Even Scientist has nothing but praise for it.
Tyrant is about 7 feet tall, about 2.1 metres. Itâs not particularly tall, just half a head taller than number 199. It looks way less ferocious than the Underworld Cerberus or Minotaur, but it is way more imposing than them. It is humanoid in shape, kind of like an adult male. It stands atop a building, looking over number 199.
Sensing its gaze, Bright narrows his eyes and finally makes a move! The man can be seen jogging and jumping up onto the awning on a ceiling from an abandoned car in one fell swoop. He grabs onto the fence with his right hand and swings up, reaching the second floor of another building. He continues ascending floor by floor. His long legs fly across roofs as if parkouring. He reaches the top of the building where Tyrant is in no time.
It is when he finally closes in on it that Bright can clearly make out the appearance of Tyrant. One side of it is a gigantic claw, the other side a human hand. Its skin is black, and its heart and other organs are exposed. It appears to be rotting. It is wearing a metal band on its head like the band placed around Monkey King . Under the band, an appearance with clear facial features can be identified.
In reference to the zombies he has met in-game, Bright predicts that Tyrant is focused on strength and attack with low defence. It will mainly attack with one hand and the other arm is there for support. Its possible weak points are its balance and its lower half. Also, it is lacking in self-control as it is under severe influence from the show.
While he would normally win this completely one-sided, but Bright pretends to be weaker out of habit. He canât win it too easily.
Several cameras focus on the two parties in a stand-off. Since Bright has killed the ruler of the apes the last time when the camera failed to capture the critical moment, the show has sent a lot more drones flying by him in an irritating manner.
Tyrant also notices these fly-like things. It is highly intelligent, even knowing to employ tactics to beat its enemies. It perhaps even understands its own predicament â like the human in front of it, they are all beasts in chains to be toyed with. They canât even get rid of these flies.
Neither of them move at first, observing and examining one another. Suddenly Tyrant leaps forward and Bright falls back at the same time as a shot from a bazooka hits a corner of the roof and rubble starts to rain about.
âDid you want to kill boss?â Harry is scolding number 56.
Piers sees the two figures that jumped up from the smoke, saying unhappily, âI missed.â Not specifying whether he meant Bright or the zombie, or perhaps both.
Number 56 triggered the fight between Bright and Tyrant. The two first exchanged blows at each other cautiously. Tyrant discovers that its opponent is not powerful. Is it he isnât serious yet, or is he purposefully acting weak? Even if its aura is so imposing that it felt threatened the moment he stepped into its territory.
He must be killed no matter what! Tyrant is already firm in his resolution to kill him and uses its full strength. Bright does not face it head-on. Instead, he uses agile movements and speed to tackle it while also using firearms to attack it. He appears as if he canât beat it but can still fight. Still, he is clearly operating beyond human limits.
Since the first season of the Killing Gauntlet, Director has been the overall supervisor of the show. He is experienced with great insight. He is strategic and good at deductions. He has the ability to design and make the correct decision.
He realises that whether in terms of stamina, intelligence or mental fortitude, number 199 is beyond human realm. That person has also hid that skill until now, showing how scheming he is! Even he himself has underestimated him. He is now starting to suspect whether Tyrant can manage to kill him.
What does this imply?
Number 199 is already beyond the showâs control. While the bracelet is still there, ensuring his basic compliance, but this layer of defence is too weak. It is not secure enough.
Director is not someone who is blind and arrogant. He immediately understands how extraordinary where number 199 came out from must be, and how big a secret laid behind him. If he ignores it and something were to happen, it is not something he can deal with alone. He does not hesitate long before sending all his records from his personal smart chip to Detective to clear his own suspicions. In fact, this is also what many Inner City residents do as well. Every one of them is smart and alert.
Those who have urged Gentleman to prove he has tamed Bright also shut up.
Recall what Gentleman has done to number 199.
Physical torture, emotional manipulation, manufacturing an offspring, and even planting a chip into his brain.
Applaud! Clap clap clap!
Gentleman has zero fucks to give about that.
Now that there has been a major breakthrough in the investigation, and most Inner City residents can now be cleared of suspicion, Detective almost wants to spontaneously break into a dance with how happy he is, âthe military is still not in the clear. Dog Soldiers have excellent fighting power whether alone or in groups. The possibility that they might have manufactured a superhuman soldier cannot be eliminated.â
âThough I believe they lack a motive. They have already planted Dog Soldiers into the show. Thereâs no need for them to stick someone else in. If it were a distraction then they shouldnât have tried to make the Dog Soldiers target number 199 to draw attention. It is illogical.â
Everyone agrees, but since there are no more conclusive evidence, they can only do it the hard way and start eliminating suspects one by one. Subconsciously, none of them are willing to suspect involvement from the Citadel.
Statistician adds, âcurrently no connection has been established between the military and number 199.â
Detective thinks a bit, before asking, âwhat about between number 199 and the Dog Soldiers?â
Statistician lowers his head, biting his lips. He seems to want to close his mouth, but he cannot control it. His tongues and lips spit out cold words regardless of his will, âDog Soldiers are planning to betray the military. It is suspected they have a deal with number 199. Its contents are unknown.â
Everyone is shocked but also realises that no wonder the Dog Soldiers were willing to listen to the command of number 199 this season. At the same time, the military is no longer as suspicious.
Bright again stages a near-death reversal. The man appears to be impossible to be beaten.
The camera clearly captures it this time. Tyrant punctures Brightâs waist with its sharp claw. Its sharp nails and the claw pierce through the manâs body. It lifts the man up so that he has nowhere to push against. His legs wail in the air while the claws squeeze in. It looks as if the sound of organs bursting can be heard even through the screen.
Bright does not surrender either. He is choking up blood as he throws a bomb at its brain, as if trying to at least kill it with his life. The blast wave of the explosion pushes the two apart. Bright rolls into a dumpster while Tyrant is less fortunate, landing right into a pile of steel rebar. One by one, the rebar pieces transform it into a comb, a thousand bars pointing out of his body.
People donât know whether they should hope that the man can still climb out or pray that he dies like that.
Whether they should go help save him or to deal the coup de grace .
Time is stretched indefinitely as the human mind wavers between light and darkness.
Suddenly, a hand drenched in blood and stains punches out of the dark green dumpster. It latches onto its edge, and then a man stands up wearing a white plastic bag on his head. It looks comedic, but also dignified.
Contestants are going, thatâs that. Better stop fantasising.
Episode ten of the show is finally finished shooting. The staff who were forcibly dragged here for more than 20 straight hours of high intensity work gets off work one by one, hoping to return home soon so they can lie down flat like a dead dog.
Unlike them, some staff have displayed an indomitable spirit of diligence and staying in oneâs posts.
âNo! Iâm not going! I love overtime! Overtime makes me happy!â
George has completed his metamorphosis from anti to fan to undyingly loyal fan. He is resolute in staying behind until his idol is finished being treated before leaving. His leader does not blame him, because he is almost becoming a fan himself.
âIâve notified people; tell me when the treatment is done.â The staff leader says.
George is thankful. He is full of adrenaline from spectating the fight, and he has still yet to calm down. He has utilised his own inspiration and his professional skills to quickly finish editing a segment of a video âHe is God.â
The staff leader looks on from the side. This time they have enough materials but only George is able to produce those videos which are highly impactful while also demonstrating the appeal of number 199 at every possible opportunity. Itâs probably because of love, the leader thinks. He copies one for himself, and shares it on the discussion group as usual.
Director watches it, while thinking about setting up a âDeath of a Godâ segment. Even the gods have a Ragnarök, not to mention number 199.
The leader chats with a few people in the group, before seeing his idol-chasing coworker return in low spirits.
âDidnât see him?â The leader guesses.
George smashes his head onto the table, âI only saw his back.â More accurately, their backs. Thereâs still another man besides his idol, a man who is holding his hands.
For some reason, Bright can feel that Hopkin is not quite having a good mood. He observes his expression carefully, saying in a cheery tone, âIâve won. Do you want to celebrate?â
Hopkin looks him over with his clear, cold gaze, focusing especially on the previously wounded waist which has now become as good as new. He swears when he saw the man being pierced and lifted up, his heart felt as if it would stop. The man, though, appeared nonchalant, as if all his worries were worthless.
âAre you worrying about me? Itâs nothing. Iâve even been wounded worse than this before.â
Yes. I did it myself.
Hopkin feels a bit short of breath. His throat is tightening and emotion is bubbling up. He wants to puke, but he swallows it back. It is stuck there, bitter and swelling. He is feeling restless.
And then, a kiss lands on him.
âIâm so happy, Hopkin.â The man hugs him, âyouâre worried about me. When youâre indifferent and calm Iâll be forced to think you donât care about me; yet youâre worrying about me, feeling concerned for me. Iâm really, really happy.â
His bitter emotions seemed to have evaporated out of the blue. Instead, there is warmth as soothing as a hot spring inside him. It feels as if he is walking on top of fluffy clouds, bathing under the warm sunlight. Even his bones seem to have mellowed out, and itâs the perfect time to melt into a flat sheet on the ground for an afternoon nap.
âYouâre influencing me too much.â This is not a good sign. Hopkin sighs. All his emotions are being tugged at by Bright. When the Inner City aristocrats express their want for him heâll become infuriated. When he is hurt he will feel concerned and anxious. When he speaks affectionately and softly he will immediately be soothed.
âSame goes for you,â Bright chuckles. His hands lightly caress the delicate eyelashes and brows of the aristocrat, mentioning, half-honest, âIâve had a nightmare where you abandoned me. You gave me away to others casually.â As many as N others, actually. Fuck.
Hopkinâs immediate reaction is âhow is that even possible.â
Letting his slave kiss someone else, hug someone else â just picturing it is unendurable.
The aristocrat who has been planning to dispose of the slave when he tires of him has already decided that he will have Bright equip the chip for his whole life; he will probably not tire of him for a long, long time into the future.
Perhaps for as long as his whole life.
Authorâs notes: Bottom is already completely in love with Top, but his worldview is still twisted as ever, and donât know how to properly treat people well. Top will teach him how to well.