Damn it, I guess there's no escaping this.
Mo Wang knew he was in for it the moment he saw the look on Aha's face. The whole event was a giant, elaborate prank designed specifically for him. He had tried to stir up enough chaos to get it canceled, but Aha had seen right through him.
You're too young to play games with me, kid!
"Damn you, Aha! Go to hell!" Mo Wang flipped Them the bird.
Aha returned the gesture. They were like two children, glaring at each other across the room.
"Hmph, such an arrogant newcomer," Vita said, now offstage with Sparkle. "So this whole thing was for him?"
"Probably," Sparkle replied, her earlier anger gone, replaced by a look of amusement. "But isn't this a bit much for just one new member?"
"Who knows? As long as it's fun, does it matter?"
"Alright, everyone!" Aha's voice boomed. "After that exciting warm-up, it's time for the main event! I'm sure you all know why we're here today. But before we welcome our newcomer, I have an important announcement! I, Aha, finally have a new Emanator!"
A full minute of stunned silence followed. The first thought on everyone's mind was, 'What kind of crazy game is our boss playing now?' Last time, it was a bug. What was it this time?
"Hey! What's with those faces? I found a super-talented genius of Elation to be my Emanator! For real this time!" Aha insisted.
"A talented genius? You mean the new guy?"
"A newcomer as an Emanator? Who is he? Don't tell me Akivili has been resurrected."
No one believed a word. It was common knowledge that out of every ten things Aha said, nine were lies, and the tenth was only half-true.
"So, without further ado, let's welcome our Best Newcomer, my new Emanator, and also the Emanator of Preservation—!!!"
That got everyone's attention. A dual Emanator? And one of them was Qlipoth's? Had their boss gone completely insane? Was he trying to start a war with the IPC?
"No wonder Lord Aha was so excited," Vita mused. "An Emanator of both Elation and Preservation... how interesting." She had no idea how interesting it was about to get.
"That's right! He's the newcomer we recruited from a planet called Jarilo-VI, recommended by our beloved Sampo! Please welcome... Mo Wang!!!!"
"Pfft!"
"What?!"
While most of the crowd was just confused, Sparkle and Vita nearly choked.
"M-Mo Wang? The one we know?"
"Probably... maybe... it's just a coincidence? We're not even in the same universe." The two of them exchanged a worried glance.
"Who's Mo Wang? Never heard of him."
"The name sounds familiar, but I can't place it."
But Aha was prepared. "For those of you who don't know him, I've prepared a little highlight reel of his time on Belobog. Please watch the screen!"
The screens lit up with a montage of Mo Wang's greatest hits: setting Sampo's butt on fire, spanking the entire population of the Overworld, and forcing the city's elite to become idols.
"Oh! Isn't that the new girl group that's been trending? The one that debuted to save their dying planet?"
"Yeah, I donated a few thousand credits to their cause. So that was his doing?"
"Wait, is he really that strong? That giant robot is more powerful than a normal Emanator! And he's a dual Emanator of Preservation and Elation?!"
"This guy is on another level. And definitely chaotic enough for us."
Vita felt a headache coming on. She recognized a lot of faces in that video... Bronya, Seele, Welt... when had her old friends started taking vacations in this universe?
"And now, let's give a warm welcome to our new Emanator, Mr. Mo Wang!" Aha said, winking at him.
But Mo Wang didn't move. The person you're looking for is Mo Wang. What's that got to do with me, the genius troublemaker Little M?
Aha: (ー`′ー) Fine, if you won't come up, I'll make you.
A spotlight suddenly hit Mo Wang, and the floor beneath him began to move, carrying him toward the stage like a conveyor belt.
"Aha! You're playing dirty!" he yelled.
"It's a 'joyful invitation,' not playing dirty," Aha replied with a grin. "You're my new Emanator, you have to show your face."
He was deposited in the center of the stage, the focus of everyone's attention.
"Alright, Mo Wang, say hello to everyone~" Aha said, handing him the microphone.
He took a deep breath. There was no escape. He might as well go all in. He ripped off his mask and suit, revealing his true face.
Sparkle and Vita just sighed. It was him.
"Alright, since we're all here, I'll stop pretending," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "Yes, I'm Mo Wang. And frankly, I'm disappointed in all of you. I'm not targeting anyone in particular. I just think that everyone here... is garbage."
A deathly silence fell over the room.
"Let me be clear," he continued, a cold smile on his face. "You all run around playing your little pranks, thinking you're so clever. But it's all just childish nonsense. You don't understand the first thing about true 'Elation.'"
"What did you say?!" someone yelled.
"Am I wrong? All you do is follow Aha around, causing pointless chaos. True 'Elation' is about shaking people to their very core, not this low-level trolling."
"Mo Wang, that's a bit harsh," Aha said, though Their eyes were twinkling with amusement. "These are all my loyal followers."
"Don't play innocent, Aha. You organized this whole thing just to see me make a fool of myself, didn't you? Well, are you satisfied?"
"Now, now, how can you think that? I'm genuinely happy to have you as my Emanator. And besides, isn't this fun?"
"Fun? I'm not interested in your twisted games." He was being as arrogant as possible, even disrespecting Aha.
Vita and Sparkle knew what was happening. This was Mo Wang's MO. He was about to do something big.