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[Frog] Chapter 126: Do You... Know Emperor?
🕑 Added 2024-10-28 10:06:11 +0000 UTCNightfall.
Outside Oscorp Industries, a manhole cover suddenly rattled a few times. With a loud clang, a disheveled green figure climbed out from underneath—it was none other than Norman.
At this moment, Norman’s exoskeleton had returned to its original form, and his face looked human again. Lying on the ground, he took deep, gasping breaths.
While he couldn't die, he still felt exhausted. After the explosion had blown him into pieces, he painstakingly regenerated, gradually inching his way toward Oscorp. The whole ordeal had drained his stamina considerably.
Yet, surviving brought a burst of manic laughter from him.
“Hahaha… I finally escaped!”
Norman didn’t care about whatever consequences might follow. At least, he was alive! Just then, his face twisted into a sinister grin. “Norman, because of your hard work tonight, I'll let you have a bit of freedom.”
“But if there’s killing to be done, let me handle it.”
His expression softened as Norman replied, “Don’t worry, I won’t fight you for the dirty, tiring jobs.”
“You don’t understand the thrill of killing.”
This seamless self-dialogue would terrify any bystanders who might overhear. After resting a bit more, Norman finally pushed himself up.
“I need to go back and clean up the lab first.”
He knew the lab still had the corpses of Jack and his crew. If they weren’t cleared out in time and someone else discovered them, it’d be game over for him.
With a thought, the exoskeleton on his body shifted and morphed, transforming into a security guard’s uniform. Now, he looked just like a regular staff member and walked calmly toward Oscorp’s entrance.
Once inside, he made his way toward the lab, his steps steady and familiar with the path. Soon, he arrived back in the lab. As the doors slid open, a wave of blood stench hit him, making him frown.
Yet, the Goblin within him seemed to revel in it. “What a delightful aroma,” it sneered.
Norman’s brow furrowed. “Don’t come out. I need to clean this place up first.”
Closing the lab doors behind him, Norman raised his hand. A green flame ignited in his palm, and the temperature in the room plummeted instantly. With a sweep of his hand, the green fire engulfed the bodies, freezing them into ice sculptures that shattered into red mist with a single crack. Even the blood stains on the floor vanished without a trace.
“This ability sure is convenient,” Norman remarked, glancing at the green flame in his hand.
Just as he was admiring his powers, the room around him suddenly went pitch black, an endless, impenetrable darkness.
Although he hadn’t turned on the lights, with the abilities granted to him by Mephisto, he could see as clearly at night as he could in daylight. But this darkness felt as if a black curtain had been pulled over his eyes, leaving him completely blind.
Instantly, Norman grew alert. “Who’s there?”
No sooner had he spoken than an eerie, bone-chilling laugh echoed through the darkness, colder than even his green flame. Hearing it, Norman’s face shifted, and he immediately dropped to one knee.
After his security uniform and face rippled and transformed, Norman’s appearance shifted into that of the Green Goblin.
Two distinct voices emerged from his mouth, as if layered on top of each other: “Master, you have finally arrived.”
In the darkness stood Mephisto, who had just rushed over from Hell. Hearing the tone of both Norman and the Goblin, Mephisto asked coldly, “It's strange that I did not show up to help you?”
Norman immediately lowered his head. “I wouldn’t dare, Master.”
“I trust that whatever you did was for a reason.”
“As your servant, I wouldn’t dare to question you.”
Satisfied with Norman’s humble attitude, Mephisto smirked. “Tell me everything. Since receiving my power, what events have unfolded?”
“Yes, Master!”
Norman recounted every detail.
“Emperor… so he really isn’t from the Sanctum Sanctorum.”
After hearing everything, Mephisto realized he had indeed wronged the Ancient One. Just as the Ancient One had said, he had underestimated Earth!
“Sanctum Sanctorum?” Norman murmured; it was the first time he’d heard this name, and it sounded incredibly mysterious.
“You’re saying that this Emperor actually waited for me to appear?” Mephisto’s voice turned cold, sensing an intentional provocation. Flames flared red-hot around him.
“Master, do you intend to personally deal with him?” the Green Goblin ventured to ask.
If anyone hated Alan the most right now, it was the Goblin. The Goblin had developed a psychological shadow—a deep fear—of the Emperor. So long as Emperor lived, his terror would never fade. Just the thought of how many times he’d been severed by Emperor’s sword sent involuntary shivers through his body.
What he wanted most now was for Mephisto to personally kill Emperor, restoring his confidence.
Mephisto glanced at the Green Goblin and said with regret, “Because of a certain agreement I’ve made, I can’t take action for now.”
The Goblin’s expression dimmed. If Mephisto couldn’t intervene, he couldn’t think of anyone else who might be able to confront that terrifying Emperor. No matter what, he wasn’t willing to face that demon again.
“But don’t worry; I didn’t come here empty-handed.”
The Goblin’s face lit up. “Master, do you have another way?”
Mephisto gave a faint smile. “I had originally thought he was associated with the Sanctum Sanctorum. If that were the case, you’d have no choice but to lay low for a while. But now…”
Inside Norman’s laboratory, a sinister scheme against Alan quietly unfolded.
Meanwhile, back at Alan’s home, he had removed his Emperor Armor and stood with Pikachu perched on his shoulder. The two stood on the balcony, waiting for Gwen to return.
After a few moments, a white silhouette swung onto the balcony on a strand of webbing. When Gwen arrived, Pikachu squeaked excitedly, “Pika…”
Alan smiled. “Welcome back.”
Gwen removed her mask, scrutinized Alan, and asked, “Alan…”
Caught off guard by the serious tone in her voice, he responded, “What’s up, Gwen?”
“You…”
Gwen jumped down from the railing and, standing on tiptoe, looked intently into his eyes. “Do you know the Emperor?”
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