Chapter 166: One Bad Apple Part 1 (1/2)
”Did you hear? Team Rhapsody are at it again?”
”Exposing more corrupt streamers?! It must be Christmas. Who is it this time?”
”It's crazy. They are going after all of Frizzle Tooth.”
”The network? Man, seriously. I don't know… Are you sure their corrupt?”
”They haven't been wrong before. They took down Vanguard and exposed him. This is one to watch for sure. They claim to be saving the number two streamer Alice.”
”Hoo boy, now I know I've got to watch. Take them down, Rhapsody!”
****
Hans sat on the wall to his garden overlooking the koi pond throwing small bread crumbs into the lake. He turned seeing Team Rhapsody prowling in already for a strike. ”Hans! Your end has come!” Zinnia boomed. ”Where's the rest of your lackeys?”
Hans saw the stream drones pouring around the area. He even looked at the stream to see well over 100,000 watchers. He smirked, turning to them. ”I sent them home, they have no business in our affairs. But I really must ask, do we really have to do this? I must insist on what I do is for the good of Victoria.”
”By killing our leader, brainwashing Alice and destroying V.I.R.A.L, all while using the garden as your tool. How is that for the good of us?!”
Hans shook his head, sighing. ”Such a pity you must see the Garden as pure evil. There are many evil streamers out there. You've shown that with Pokiero, the Phantom streamer, Monty Montague, Vanguard and so many more. On that basis, shouldn't we see streamers as all evil? I intend on using the Garden for good. Why fight that?”
”Trampling on others and using people as your tool to kill isn't good!” Scarlett snapped. ”Alice doesn't want this. We will rip her from your clutches.”
”A shame we cannot see eye to eye. The Garden has taught me many things about our old world. Did you know hundreds of years ago the oppressed minority stood up against the masses and fought for their freedom? They won and were granted the same values we see in each other today. It appears I too must fight this battle for myself. Streamers are tarnished. V.I.R.A.L is a plague, and the Garden is our only salvation. I'll fight for a better tomorrow.”
”The Garden has corrupted your mind! How can you seriously believe what you are saying when the Garden has ruined so many before us!” Yelled Gale.
Hans stood up, allowing the powers of the Garden to pour around his hand. ”The Garden is but a tool. One used for both good and evil, it's nothing more or nothing less. I consider this a great honour to be chosen to carry the torch for a bright future. My reward will be having my children by my side once more. We can be a family in a world where we won't have to worry about what happened in Sunset Peak ever again. If that makes me a bad guy, then I'm guilty as charged. It doesn't have to be this way. Join me, we can make the world a better place. Together we can use the Garden for good and make sure it doesn't harm anyone else!”
”Never! Team Rhapsody sticks together and never turn our back on our allies. That goes for both Alton and Alice!”
Hans frowned looking disappointed. ”Such a pity. It honestly hurts that we cannot see eye to eye. In another life, we might have been allies, pushing for a bright future. But it appears that story will never blossom. Then I will have to take actions into my own hands!”
Swinging his arm around the area was blocked off with vines. Dozens of portals opened up as the dark replicas appeared caped in black armour and helmets displaying their yellow eyes. Each of team Rhapsody flinched at this all back-to-back. ”So, these are the Dark Replicas Iris warned us about… There's far too many!”
”If they all share the same powers as Alice we're royally screwed,” Emil grunted.
”Fuck, at this rate we will each need to take out about three at one time… Zinnia I'm not sure if we can do this!”
Zinnia held her katana out towards Hans. ”We have to. For Alice!”
”You are outmatched, outnumbered and out of luck, it may seem. Just like your leader, you vastly underestimated Frizzle Tooth, and this will be your downfall.”