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Sausage's eyes widened in shock, his hand reaching for his trusty bow as a magical blast shot just right past him. When he turned around to run away, a sharp pain suddenly shot him in the arm, he felt the sparks of redstone dust mixing with his blood, creating an uncomfortable feeling of electricity flowing through his arm.
He quickly turned back around, an arrow pulled back and pointed at his allies, his family, his friends, those people who raised their weapons for more than playful fighting.
It stung, but it didn't seem like he had a chance to convince them otherwise.
He let the arrow fly, landing a hit into Gem's shoulder. She stumbled back, Sausage's heart wanted to scream when Fwhip jumped in front of her, loading his crossbow with a vengeful twinkle in his eyes, protecting the wizard with his body as she quickly recovered from the blow.
As Fwhip tightened his grip on his weapon, seconds away from firing the dangerous contraption right at the king's head, something changed. In what seemed like a milisecond, the unbearable heat of the nether wastes stopped overwhelming Sausage, the harsh ashen winds stopped blowing... And Sausage's body stiffened.
He tried to reach for an arrow only to be met with no reaction, not even moving his fingers did anything. Sausage's heart quickened, what is this?! Is this a paralysing spell?? Was Gem really that desperate to get him killed??
"I'm hurt~" A deep, demonic voice echoed throuh his mind. "I am nothing like that wizard, I am way more powerful than her.~"
Sausage's eyes darted around, seeing the dark lord himself walk past him and stopping only a few meters from him. His eyes flared with energy as he stared right into the king's soul.
"Xornoth..?"
"Yes Sausage, It's me~" He walked up closer, examining the frozen body like a predator, minutes before eating it's prey.
"W-what is this?! Why can't I move my body? What are you doing??" Sausage asked, confused and honestly a little scared, especially with his life on the line.
The fanged smile turned into a frown for a moment. "How ungrateful are you? I stopped time to protect you and you choose to bombard me with questions?"
Sausage's eyes wandered away from the piercing gaze of his dark lord, noticing the two emperors behind him also being frozen in place, their determined and angry expressions stuck like looking at a photo. "I didn't realise... Apologies.."
"You are forgiven." He waved his hand. "Wouldn't expect anything less from someone as weak as you..."
Sausage's jaw clenched. Usually he'd talk back, defend his honour and magical ability, but now? Having his body stuck in position mid attack, unable to fight back the sheer influence of Xornoth felt hopeless. His ally, Gem, could imbue pure magic into crystals, she didn't even need that staff, it was just for show!!!
Meanwhile, Sausage had nothing of that sorts. He had to get his kingly outfit dirty every time he wished to feel powerful, he had to borrow strength from magical blood stained sheep just to feel something, anything similar to what she felt running through her veins daily.
Xornoth's annoyed frown twisted into a smile, leaning closer to the king, snapping him out of the silence. "But I can change that~"
"Huh?" Sausage's eyes met with the demon's, his bright purple and red eyes penetrating his weak soul, wrapping the tendrils of corruption around his heart and pulling him deeper in.
"I can help you~" His voice slithered around the king like a venomous snake. "We can help eachother out, you want magic don't you?~" Xornoth placed raised his hand up, crimson tendrils growing out of the tips of his fingers. Sausage's eyes went wide, seeing the little vines reach for his face.
"I do!" He gasped out. "What would you like me to do..?"
The tendrils withdrew as Xornoth left his line of sight, moments later he felt something leaning on his back, the dark talons wrapped themselves around the king's shoulders. He felt the demon's cold breath in his ear. "You've got to surrender all your loyalties, become my one and only champion of the dark~"
"Champion?" Sausage repeated, the title sounded so good.
"Yes." The taloned hands were brought up over Sausage's eyes, the dark expanse filling up with sparks and tendrils of red and purple, showing Sausage standing side by side with Xornoth, showing him standing victorious in a field of dead emperors, seeing him radiating with magic. "Sausage, the Champion of darkness. Doesn't that sound nice?~"
"It does! I'll be the greatest champion you ever-" He went quiet when he lifted the palms, making Sausage look straight at Fwhip and Gem again. A confusing feeling overwhelmed him, a sickening empathy filled his heart.
"Oh don't tell me you still care about those two, after everything they've done to you?!" The dark lord hissed in disgust. "They're trying to kill you and you're doubting my offer?"
"They're my alliance. They've been there for me since the beginning..." Sausage said, trying to justify their action more to himself than Xornoth.
"Were they? They don't seem very loyal to me."
"We just... Mess around sometimes! It's how they are! We like to shoot eachother for fun!"
"Really? To me it looked like they would just shoot you.~" The king felt the demon's chin lean on his shoulder.
A nervous stutter pushed itself from Sausage's lips. "They're just like that. I know them. We just mess around... We're all friends."
"Friends?" An evil chuckle escaped the demon. "Do you really think that friends would act like this?!" His sharp talons pushed against his skin as he firmly grasped his chin, forcing him to look forward. "They're trying to kill you. Kill one of their own because they think it would help them escape.~ Are you really going to let them toy with you like this? Let them abuse you? Make fun of you? Underestimate you in every single moment of your miserable life?~"
"I..." Sausage gulped, the sharp nails digging deep enough to barely draw blood. "No! I won't!"
Xortnoth withdrew, a devilish laughter echoing in Sausage's ears. "You're right... I'm done being the weak one!! I don't need them... Who needs them when I am friends with a demon?!" The king's eyes flickered with bloodlust, corruption soaking into his soul as he felt his fingers twitch with anticipation, his body hungry for blood.
"That's right~" Xornoth smiled, gently stroking his cheek. "I'm the only one who sees your full potential. The wizard never encouraged your dreams of magic. The alchemist never protected you when you got hurt.~" The darkness felt so welcoming, it carresed Sausage's hungry soul, it held him close and whispered sweet nothings in his ear.
The demon disappeared from his gaze again, feeling his hand on his back as everything slowly started moving again. His lord never left his side, he felt his touch and support with every arrow that pierced his old friend's chest.
He laughed maniacally, he could feel the power at his finger tips, the support felt like the best drug in the world. Eventually he felt his cold lips on his ear again, pushing him forward as he whispered in his ear.
"You are stronger than them, my champion, do not bend to their will."