From Nobody to God Doctor

Chapter 9. The Rise of the Emperor

Chapter 9: The Rise of the Emperor

...a thick, neon-green fog hissed out of the deadly canister, flooding every inch of the secret lab with a metallic stench that instantly scorched their lungs! Navi doubled over, hacking violently as her eyes burned like they’d been doused in pepper spray. Siska had already collapsed beside the silver coffin, her face turning a terrifying shade of blue.

"Drop dead, all of you! Nobody survives Project Omega, especially not a mouthy little brat like you!" The Shadowless Executioner let out a sinister laugh from behind his dark sunglasses.

"P-patheitc... you coward... using chemical gas!" Navi tried to stand, but her knees turned to jelly.

"The world doesn't need heroes, Miss Navi. It needs obedience. And Mr. Wijaya wants you all erased from history... Now, let me take what rightfully belongs to us!" The suited man stepped closer to the silver coffin, a pair of heavy-duty steel cutters already in his grip.

Suddenly, a loud CRACK echoed from inside the silver coffin.

"What the?! Why's the coffin getting hot?!" The Executioner jumped back, startled as golden steam began to hiss out from the seams of the lid.

"Zolda...?" Navi whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief.

BOOM!

The half-ton silver lid was blasted into the ceiling, shattering into shrapnel! Zolda leaped out, his body wrapped in a blinding golden aura. His eyes were no longer red; they were swirling pools of pure, molten gold, like tiny galaxies.

"Yo, who's cooking with gas in here? Smells like ass!" Zolda landed smoothly in front of Navi. His aura instantly sucked all that thick green fog into his pores like it was nothing more than cheap cologne.

"ZOLDA! You're actually awake, you bastard! I thought you turned into soup in there!" Navi screamed with joy, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Sorry, Nav. Took a longer nap than I planned. That juice in the coffin was nice, kinda like a honey bath," Zolda grinned, but his eyes locked instantly onto the trembling suited man.

"Impossible! That's lethal Omega gas! Why do you look fresher than before, huh?!" The Executioner shrieked, fumbling to pull a Glock from his jacket.

"Lethal my ass! Your gas is basically just Vitamin C to me!" Zolda moved with blinding speed.

SLAP!

Zolda didn't even punch; he just backhanded the guy's cheek. But the effect was insane—the man spun in the air like a top before smashing through a glass cabinet, shattering everything.

"Ghk... hack! My teeth... my teeth are all gone!" The man gasped on the floor, his sunglasses crushed.

"Only your teeth are gone so far, wait till I stomp on your pride!" Zolda walked over and crushed the man's hand as he reached for his gun. CRUNCH! "Hurts, right? That's what you get for touching my friends!"

"Mercy... Mr. Zolda... I was just following orders... Mr. Wijaya made me..."

"Wijaya this, Wijaya that. I'm sick of hearing that bald freak's name. Tell your boss, starting today, the game has changed. He's not hunting me anymore; I'm gonna make him beg and kiss my feet!" Zolda pressed a pressure point on the man's neck, knocking him out instantly, eyes rolling back.

Zolda rushed over to Siska. He pressed on her chest, channeling his golden energy. "Sis, wake up! Don't die yet, you still haven't paid for my fried rice!"

"Cough! Cough! Ow... my chest... you pressed too hard, idiot!" Siska woke up clutching her chest, color returning to her face.

"Thank God, still feisty. Means she's alive," Zolda laughed in relief, then helped Navi stand. "You okay, Nav?"

"Leg's still a bit wobbly, but seeing you awake looking like a monster makes me feel way better," Navi hugged Zolda's arm tight. "Where to now? This place is compromised!"

"Back to Jakarta. But no more hiding. We're building a HQ right in the city's heart, let Wijaya know we're right under his nose!" Zolda stared at the hole in the ceiling with burning ambition.

An hour later, they were in a black van Siska had prepped outside the emergency tunnel. Zolda drove while Navi was busy on her laptop.

"Nav, find me a target. Not just anyone, I need the richest, most critically ill person in Jakarta that no doctor can save," Zolda ordered, overtaking a truck recklessly on the highway.

"You wanna start expanding now, Zolda? You got balls," Siska commented from the back seat, loading her pistol.

"Hell yeah! What's the point of God-tier skills if I'm hiding in a rat hole? We need capital, connections. The fastest way to get all that is to make those powerful people slaves to my life-saving skills," Zolda grinned cunningly.

"Found one! Mr. Baron. Owns the biggest hotel and casino chain in Southeast Asia. Currently critical at Medika Center Hospital with stage four lung cancer plus kidney failure," Navi showed her laptop screen. "Family's prepping a lavish funeral, top doctors gave up."

"Baron, huh? Perfect stepping stone. Siska, got any decent doctor clothes? Can't show up looking like a hobo," Zolda glanced at his tattered rags.

"Relax, there's a suit and a white coat in the trunk. You'll look like the most handsome, yet biggest jerk of a genius doctor ever," Siska laughed.

At Medika Center Hospital, the vibe was tense. Dozens of hulking guards secured the VIP floor. Zolda strode confidently in his white coat, followed by Navi and Siska posing as assistants.

"Hey, stop! Where you think you're going?! This floor is sterile, no entry!" A bald guard blocked Zolda.

"Sterile your face! I'm the specialist Baron's family flew in from Germany. Move before I relocate your kidneys to your neck!" Zolda barked with a deep, booming voice, his aura intimidating the guard instantly.

"But... the German doctor is coming tomorrow..."

"I took a private jet, stupid! Move or Baron dies and you hang!" Zolda shoved the guard into the wall.

Zolda entered the luxurious suite. Inside, senior doctors were arguing frustratedly. On the bed, a gaunt old man lay hooked up to tubes.

"Who are you?! How dare you enter!" A middle-aged doctor with glasses, Dr. Lukman, yelled.

"I'm the guy saving this old man while you discuss his funeral," Zolda approached the bed, ignoring everyone's glares.

"Insolent! Do you know who we are? The best medical team in the country! You're just a kid playing dress-up!" Dr. Lukman pointed a finger at Zolda.

"Best medical team? Then why's his heart rate dropping every ten seconds? Why are his lungs full of black fluid you can't drain?!" Zolda countered, activating his Inner Eye.

The doctors fell silent. How did he know without looking at charts?

"Listen, quacks. Baron doesn't have normal cancer. He has 'Marrow Rot Poison' from his cigars. Keep chemo-ing him, and he's dead in two hours!" Zolda ripped out Baron's IV.

"HEY! THAT'S MURDER!" Dr. Lukman lunged, but Siska held a scalpel to his throat.

"Quiet, old man. Let my doctor work, or surgery starts early on your neck!" Siska's cold tone made Lukman wet himself.

"Navi, get my gold needles!" Zolda ordered.

"On it, Boss!" Navi opened an antique wooden box of gleaming needles.

Zolda worked fast, hands dancing over Baron. He inserted needles into impossible nerve points. Baron convulsed, but color returned to his pale face.

"Crazy... forbidden acupuncture!" whispered a young doctor.

"Forbidden to you, pocket change to me!" Zolda pressed Baron's solar plexus. "Yo, old man! Wake up! Your debt to the world isn't paid!"

Suddenly, Baron woke up and vomited foul black liquid all over Dr. Lukman. BLAAAAGH!

"Gross! My shirt!" Lukman screamed, but everyone focused on Baron, now breathing normally, eyes alert.

"Where... am I? Who saved me?" Baron asked, voice raspy but strong.

"Me, Zolda. The guy who pulled you out of the grave," Zolda wiped his hands, sitting on the bed edge, legs crossed.

"Zolda...? Stranger. But thanks, kid. What do you want? Money? House? Job?" Baron looked at Zolda with awe.

"Got money. Don't need a job. I want you as my watchdog in Jakarta's business world. Turn your hotels into my intel base, and give Navi here 30% of your company shares," Zolda said casually.

The doctors gasped. "Preposterous! Don't listen, Mr. Baron! He's extorting you!"

Baron laughed loudly. "Hahaha! I like your guts! Better than leaving it to my greedy relatives. Deal! From today, Baron serves you, Zolda!"

Zolda smirked. "Good. Nav, papers. Siska, clean up this trash."

Just as they were chatting, the door burst open. Military police swarmed in, led by a man resembling Arka Wijaya but older and tougher.

"Zolda! You're under arrest for malpractice and assaulting the Wijaya family!" The man yelled, gun drawn.

Zolda stood up calmly, fixing his collar. "Celebrating success, and clowns arrive. Mr. Baron, look. That's the guy who poisoned your cigars."

Baron's face turned red. "WIDODO WIJAYA! So it was you?! Daring to bring troops into my room!"

"Mr. Baron... misunderstanding! We're arresting a terrorist!" Widodo panicked seeing Baron healthy.

"Terrorist my ass! He saved me! Guards, throw these dogs out! Now!" Baron shouted, shaking the floor.

Baron's larger private army faced off with the military police. Tense standoff.

Zolda walked up to Widodo, ignoring the gun. He whispered, "Widodo... know your mistress is pregnant by your driver? Want that on the morning news? Leave now..."

Widodo shook. "You... how do you know...?!"

"I'm a doctor. I smell rot. Scram, or I ruin the Wijayas tonight!" Zolda slapped Widodo lightly, ultimate humiliation.

Widodo retreated. "Not over, Zolda! Watch your back!"

"Yeah, bring snacks next time!" Zolda mocked.

Navi approached Zolda. "Crazy. One day in Jakarta, and you own a conglomerate and scare a military brass. True Medical Emperor!"

"Just the start, Nav. We're building an empire the government bows to," Zolda looked out the window. "Next target?"

"Arka Wijaya. Launching a new drug tonight at Grand Hyatt. 'Eternal Youth'. Intel says it's a new addictive biotech drug," Navi showed the digital invite.

"Eternal Youth? Hahaha! Let's show them 'Old Age'," Zolda grinned demonically. "Siska, car. We're crashing."

"What are we wearing, Boss?"

"Most expensive stuff. Make them feel like bums."

That night, Grand Hyatt was lavish. Elites everywhere. Arka stood on stage, holding a blue vial.

"Ladies and gentlemen, 'Eternal Youth'. One drop, feel twenty again!"

Suddenly, the ballroom doors burst open! Zolda entered with Navi in a sexy red dress and Siska in a sharp black suit.

"Eternal Youth? More like 'Eternal Death', right Arka?!" Zolda shouted, turning heads.

Arka's face dropped. "Zolda?! How are you here?!"

"Flew on reaper wings, bro. Surprised?" Zolda walked to stage center, crowds parting.

"Security! Get him!" Arka panicked.

Ten elite guards surrounded Zolda. Zolda moved two fingers.

"Don't move if you value your family jewels."

"Huh?!"

Suddenly, all ten grabbed their crotches and collapsed, screaming.

"Holy shit! Zolda, what did you do?!" Navi was shocked.

"Pressed their 'Manhood' nerve points remotely with Qi. Feels like unanesthetized circumcision times ten," Zolda laughed, grabbing the vial from Arka.

"Give it back! Billions of dollars!" Arka lunged, but Zolda grabbed his neck.

"Billions for monkey brain extract and floor cleaner?! Poisoning Jakarta's elite?!" Zolda smashed the vial.

A chemical stench filled the room. People gagged.

"See! This is your miracle drug?! Smells like dead rats!" Zolda yelled at the crowd.

Arka was humiliated. Tried to run, but Siska blocked him with a gun.

"Sit tight, Junior. Slapping's not done," Siska smirked.

Zolda dragged Arka to center stage, mic to his mouth. "Tell them. Where's this from? Shadow Sect, right?!"

"I... I know nothing! Just a shipment..."

SLAP!

Zolda slapped Arka spinning. "Don't lie! Inner Eye hears your lying heart!"

"Okay! Shadow Sect! But I was forced! They have my dad!" Arka cried, image shattered.

"Your dad? Bald Widodo? He was fine trying to arrest me," Zolda kicked Arka off stage.

Zolda faced the crowd. "Listen! New rules in Jakarta. Sick? Come to me. Business? Ask me. Work with Wijayas? Your fate's worse than roadkill!"

Silence. Everyone saw Zolda crush Arka.

Zolda stepped down. "Nav, record faces. Anyone disrespecting me tonight goes bankrupt tomorrow."

"You got it, Emperor!"

Suddenly, lights out. Darkness and panic. Zolda's Inner Eye saw five black dots moving fast on the ceiling.

"Zolda! Above!" Siska fired at the ceiling.

A shadow dropped in front of Zolda. White fox mask, long sword emitting cold aura.

"Cosplaying Naruto?!" Zolda blocked the sword with bare energy-coated hands.

"I am 'Executor No. 1' of the White Medical Sect. You killed Elder Bai. Tonight, you pay!" Her voice was melodic but sharp.

"Elder Bai's friend? Good, needed a punching bag!" Zolda engaged.

Sparks flew. This executor was stronger than Arka or the guards.

"Navi, Siska, get people out! This fox is mine!" Zolda yelled.

"Careful, she has freezing poison!" Siska warned, pulling Navi away.

Zolda and the fox duelled on wrecked tables. She was slippery.

"Not bad for a low-level executor," Zolda smirked, adrenaline rising.

"Low-level? You'll regret that!" She unleashed a move. "Nine-Tailed Soul Splitter!"

Her sword became nine shadows attacking from everywhere. Zolda was cornered.

"Okay! Emperor's Shield: Nine Dragons!"

Nine gold dragons blocked the strikes. Zolda snatched her mask off.

"WHAT?!" Zolda froze seeing her face.

A beautiful woman with silver hair and blue eyes. But on her neck... a birthmark shaped exactly like Zolda's necklace logo.

"You... have that mark too?!" Zolda stopped his punch.

She stared at his necklace, shaking. "Impossible... that necklace... belongs to the lost heir of the Sky Family!"

"Sky Family? Don't confuse me!" Zolda barked, but intrigued.

"Zolda... if you have that... we are..."

BOOM!

A huge explosion outside. Navi rushed back in.

"ZOLDA! BIG ARMY OUTSIDE! TANKS!"

"Tanks?! In the city?!"

"Alliance of Seven Houses! All here for you!" Siska yelled.

The silver-haired woman looked at Zolda oddly. "Zolda, go. I'll hold them. You're not ready for the Seven Houses!"

"I don't run, especially from new girls!" Zolda was stubborn.

"Listen! If you die, your parents' secret dies! Go here!" She threw him a chip.

Zolda caught it. Nodded. "Okay. Don't die, Fox Girl. I have questions!"

Zolda grabbed Navi and Siska, escaping through the kitchen. Outside was a warzone.

"Surrounded! Exits blocked!" Siska fired at drones.

Zolda spotted an armored limo. "Nav, hack it!"

"Ten seconds!"

Click! Door opened. They jumped in, Zolda floored it through a barricade.

"What's on the chip?!" Navi asked, panting.

Zolda slotted it. A map showed a remote island north of Jakarta. Big text: "ZOLDA'S BIOLOGICAL PARENTS' HQ".

"My parents are alive?!" Zolda teared up.

"Zolda, behind us! Chopper lock!" Siska warned.

BZZZZTTT! Laser lock.

"Missile incoming!" Navi screamed.

Zolda gripped the wheel. Golden aura enveloped the car. "Not today! Hang on! We're flying!"

Zolda yanked the wheel, jumping a broken bridge toward the sea, just as a missile exploded behind them and...