Apocalypse: System of lotteries



[Napoleon had all his subordinates hidden in a distant forest beyond an ancient fortress. Alone, he rode an armored wild boar, standing before the fortress gates, croaking to call out the pig inside for a discussion.]

[Your Napoleon watched as a round, burly figure with a pig's head emerged, wielding a rake. The black-furred pig-man laughed, mocking Napoleon for fleeing so quickly the last time. "You have the nerve to come back?"]

[Your Napoleon retorted, "What do you know? That was a strategic retreat. Now, I'm back for a strategic attack. Do you think you understand strategy better than I do?"]

"Are they seriously taunting each other now?"

Ming returned to his vehicle, checking Napoleon's travel route. Slapping Kubo, he instructed, "Drive. Let's go."

Nine-toothed rake, black-furred pig-man.

I'm coming.

[Your Napoleon remained not to give up. Trying to reason with the pig-man, he croaked, "If you don't submit, I'll show you a thousand ways to cook a black pig." The pig-man scoffed, stating that there's only one way to cook a frog - stir-fried.]

[Your Napoleon gave one final warning, "This is your last chance to submit. Otherwise, you'll pay the price. Understand, I never engage in an unprepared battle." The pig-man laughed, "Why would a god like me bow to a frog?"]

"This... this pig doesn't seem too smart either."

Still, having once refused Napoleon, he seemed somewhat brighter than the flying leech, but only by a bit. Was this creature a beast-man or a zombie?

[Your Napoleon gestured to the armored boar beside him, "Look, your little cousin is with me. Don't be stubborn." Yet the black-furred pig remained defiant, sneering at both the frog and the armored boar, declaring it unworthy of being a pig.]

[Giving up on peaceful negotiations, your Napoleon switched to intimidation. He challenged the pig-man to a fair duel, with the loser vowing to serve the winner for life. The pig-man agreed, looking down at the tiny frog with disdain.]

"A duel?"

Ming was taken aback. How could Napoleon, a small frog, duel the giant pig? By Bragging??

[Your Napoleon signaled to the flying leech, "Go, duel him." The pig-man didn't seem concerned. "Sending your defeated subordinate? I'll make sure to gouge out its eyes today."]

[As the flying leech and the pig-man squared off, your Napoleon whispered to Medusa beside him, "Now, it's time for the real plan." Medusa nodded, ready for action.]

"The real plan?"

Ming watched Napoleon's moves. He had underestimated the cunning frog. Utilizing the Flying Leech to bind the Pig-man and then calling upon the gargoyle's stony capabilities to immobilize him, Napoleon had taken the upper hand. But just when victory seemed assured, the Pig-man's power surge broke the leech's bindings.

[As the Pig-man's minions charged, Napoleon's own forces, including wooden warriors, mantis warriors, hellhounds, and zombies, rose to confront them. The battlefield was in chaos.]

[Napoleon's gesture to the Cyclops, however, changed the situation. The enormous one-eyed creature swung its club, creating a space on the battlefield, allowing Napoleon's forces to regroup.]

[Amidst the battle, Napoleon, riding his wild boar, approached the black-furred Pig-man once again. "So, will you join us now or keep fighting?" ]

[With a defiant laugh, the Pig-man expanded his body, breaking free from his restraints. His strength was overwhelming.]

[Napoleon swiftly ordered his wild boar to retreat, "Step back! When others fight, we should watch from a safe distance. Isn't that common sense? Or do I need to teach you everything?"]

[Looking at the chaos, with the ghouls being swept away by the Pig-man's rake and the Flying Leech failing its mission, Napoleon croaked in frustration, "You couldn't even hold down a pig?"]

[The Leech raised its tentacles in defense, "Was I supposed to?!"]

Ming, from his location, was both amused and worried. The battle was not going as smoothly as he'd hoped. Napoleon's tactics were smart, but the Pig-man's brute strength and abilities were proving to be a significant challenge.

"Quick!" 

Ming urged Kubo, eyes constantly measuring the distance to Napoleon. eagle could only sustain flight for a matter of seconds and required cooldown time, thus they had to make the final charge within the last stretch.

[Napoleon, patting the boar's head, continued to retreat. "As my steed, you must remain vigilant to the battlefield," he croaked. "Like now. Is this another strategic withdrawal?" the armored boar grunted skeptically.]

[Napoleon glared, slapping the boar on the head. "This is a strategic repositioning," he snapped. "Learn the difference, fool."]

[Napoleon called for a halt, raising his head to see a pale figure with a golden sheen emerging. The figure exuded opulence, adorned with gold and wielding a weapon set with large gemstones. Purple-blue currents of energy sparkled around it. Upon closer inspection, it was Ming.]

[With a decisive pat on the boar's head, Napoleon ceased his retreat. He watched as Ming, wings crackling with electricity, brought a hammer down upon the black-furred pig. Numerous purple-blue arcs of electricity danced around its body like blooming fireworks.]

[Napoleon observed as the black-furred pig's entire body quivered, its hair standing on end. He watched Ming relentlessly pound at the creature's head until it finally fell defeated to the ground.]

[Stepping forward, Napoleon addressed the defeated pig. "Now you see the power of  Ming," it said. "You have but one choice—stand with me or..."]

[To Napoleon's surprise, the black-furred pig transformed into a mist and vanished.]

"~~"

Holding his thunder hammer, Ming was equally astonished. "How did it just disappear like that?" he wondered. "Such a useful skill."

At that moment, a wisp of smoke appeared in the distance. The black-furred pig, brandishing a spiked rake, pointed to the ancient fortress behind him and called out to Ming, "If you are a real man, follow me inside!"

Ming pointed back assertively, "If you are a real man, come and face me one on one!"

Glancing past Ming at the creatures that stood behind him, the black-furred pig chuckled, "I guess I won't be a 'real man' today. What of it?"

"..."

Ming paused, leaving him momentarily speechless. "Truly shameless!"