Volume 1, Chapter 6: Evil King Barrel

You are reading the official Taiyou Con light novel, Reset!!! We Tried to Run an Anime Convention… and Broke the Universe!!! Starring Sunny, Ash, Sakura, Leon and the crew as they put on the con — and save the world while they’re at it. Volume 1 is The Invasion Saga! (Note: The events and characters in the Taiyou Con light novel is a fictional story. For real convention event updates, go to our Updates.)

Previously on… Taiyou Con: The Invasion Saga! Sunny and friends learned of Evil King Barrel and his quest for the Solis Core after interrogating a barrel cactus. However, the barrel cactus escaped. Now that both sides have discovered new information about each other… what will happen next?

Beyond the Milky Way galaxy, far across the universe untouched by human eyes, a looming green fortress floated in space among stars in a solar system with two suns. Jagged black spires twisted into the void from its surface, pulsating with bright green veins of energy that hummed with malevolent power. Inside, shadows danced across the smooth walls of a towering throne room crafted in elegance.

Deep within the throne chamber, a cactus scout limped forward. Its outer shell was scratched, several needles broken from slashes that had nearly obliterated it. Yet its expression remained proud and thrilled as it knelt before the massive throne carved from a shimmering metal.

“Me Lord… I bring news,” the cactus rasped, voice cracking under its injuries.

The walls hummed and glowed faintly. A heavy silence followed. From the shadows emerged a circular, imposing figure with a crown made of a material that looks like gold. His cactus body was massive—twice the size of a normal barrel cactus warrior. A goatee on his face gave him a look of wisdom and power. This was Evil King Barrel, ruler of the Cactus Empire Galaxy.

He walked forward with his massive crown rested on his head slightly leaning to one side.

“Speak,” the king growled with a royal air.

The scout trembled slightly. “There is a… human girl. She summoned a blade out of nowhere. A strong blade—it cut though many of our soldiers. She might be the one you are looking for.”

A few moments passed. The chamber seemed to vibrate faintly, and then, laughter erupted. Not joyous laughter but bitter and resolute. The laughter of someone who had been denied his rightful power for far too long.

“So… it wasn’t just myth after all…” Evil King Barrel muttered. “A being who can summon a powerful sword, and it finally appeared before us… on that pathetic little planet.”

He turned his back to the scout and walked toward the balcony that overlooked a field of stars and the two suns. Nearby, a planet teeming with his royal subjects. He paused to admire his domain— just one of his many he had conquered in this galaxy.

Yet even now, the knowledge that he ruled only a single galaxy gnawed at him.

“The Ancients sealed the Solis Core crystal on that forsaken planet with a protector who can summon a powerful sword. But they never thought the sword itself would be the clue to finding it…” He stroked his goatee. “It was the perfect plan to send warriors all over the universe to see if this sword would show up.”

A shadow moved beside him. A smaller cactus general stepped forward, decorated with medals clinking against his cactus shell. “It was a perfect plan! Shall we mobilize all battalions within this sector, Your Majesty?”

Evil King Barrel raised a hand. “No. Gather your best warriors! We shall pay a little visit to that little planet ourselves.”

“Your Majesty, you’re going as well?”

“If the Solis Core is truly there, I want to be the one to claim it. I want it in my hands!”

Evil King Barrel drew a menacing looking sword from his back, a glowing gem embedded in its crossguard. He searched eons for this sword in the ruins of the Ancients’ temples across multiple galaxies and now, it was time to put it to use.

“This is a sword of the Ancients. It is foretold that when it comes into contact with a summoned sword, it reveals the path to the Solis Core.”

The scout bowed again. “Me Lord, what of the girl?”

Evil King Barrel stared into the cosmos. For a few moments, his eyes locked onto the glimmering stars beyond.

“She is irrelevant. We just need her to summon her sword so the two blades can light the path to the crystal.” He turned sharply. “Either way… I will have the Solis Core and reshape reality itself in my image. Everything and everyone will belong to me.”

He glanced at a nearby pedestal. Inside a glass casing rested a small barrel cactus crystal statue, dressed in royal regalia. Her eyes were closed, as if she was in a wonderful slumber.

“I will have my queen again. I will be able to hear her voice… again.”

He clenched the sword tightly, and a cruel smile ran across his face as stroked his goatee. Turning back to the stars, Evil King Barrel let out a maniacal laugh. With a stern look at his general and scout, he issued a sharp command.

“Prepare for departure through the portal! I have a plan for this human girl… something she won’t be able to resist. She will bring her sword—to us.”

“And the rest of the human warriors with her?” the general asked.

“Let those fools come!” Evil King Barrel sneered. “Their strength in numbers… will be their weakness.”

As he returned to his throne and sat down, Evil King Barrel activated the screen in front of him. The green veins of energy across the walls brightened. The fortress itself roared as all of the barrel cactus warriors prepared in great numbers to go through a portal that will send them across the universe.

Evil King Barrel sat back on his throne, eyes burning with anticipation. “Soon,” he whispered. “The universe will bow… and everyone will worship Evil King Barrel.”

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Thanks for reading the Taiyou Con mascot light novel series — a fictional story for fans!! For real convention event updates, guest announcements and more, go to our Updates.

Go forward to Chapter 7.

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