"Chop chop, slave. If you go too slow I might get the idea that you're trying to stall for time."
Evelyn looked into the condescending eyes of the spirit, whose voice sounded like the shattering of glass.
"You..... if..... if I go with you..... what.... what will you make me do? What do you want? From me.... from my people...."
Evelyn looked up with desperation, understanding her position well yet not understanding anything at all.
"What is your goal?"
As Evelyn stated these questions, silence pierced the area.
The four who were walking forward froze in place, not even so much as looking back to address her.
"Our goals?"
The demonic male replied with a crackling voice.
"Heh..... heh heh... our goals, eh?"
"Is.... is there a reason to do all this? What.... what's the point? World domination? Overtaking people as your slaves? Let's say that you're successful..... what do you gain? A bunch of people to serve you? Life as kings and queens? Riches? Even if those things are your goals, why would you bother taking over the entire world? I..... I heard that you have been taking city after city. Why? Who needs as many cities as you have taken? What king tries to hold the entire world in their palm? Normally if such a king tried to do so, they would only drive their kingdom to ruin."
The four stood perfectly still as Evelyn ranted her own thoughts.
She was terrorized down to every bone in her body, and it took every bit of her courage to speak.
Even saying what she had, she was terrified that she would anger the beings in front of her, and this would transfer to her own people as punishment.
But she had to know.
She absolutely had to know.
Were these people nothing more than evil overlords who were trying to spread their evil throughout the world, spreading suffering to each and every race and city?
Or were they mere fools who had become arrogant as a result of their own strength, and would eventually be defeated as they made enemies of the entire world?
Without a doubt, these people were terrifyingly powerful.
However, did they really think they could take on the entire world?
Even to Evelyn who was faced with their power, there was doubt in her heart of this.
She had already resigned to her fate, and prepared to do as they said, but she had to know.
Just why would they go so far?
"That isn't a very slavelike attitude to take, you know."
Turning around, the crimson demon faced Evelyn with a horrible smile.
"Hahaha... but I suppose this way makes it all the more interesting, right?"
It was then that the demon disappeared.
'Wha-'
"So let me think up an answer to your question."
The voice came from behind Evelyn, who turned around at the sound.
"Not there. In front of you."
Looking back, Evelyn was thrown about as her eyes desperately searched for the demon who spoke.
"Now I'm up here."
'Where.... where is he? His voice is coming from all directions...'
"And now I'm on your left."
'Is.... is he moving faster than I can even perceive!?'
"So let me think.... as far as what our goals are..... hmm..... well, I guess we just want to see the world burn?"
Each word which the demon spoke came from a different direction. He was speeding around her at such a chaotic speed that she couldn't even perceive him.
Evelyn lowered her head at this display of power as the demon so utterly humiliated her even further than she already had been.
"If we were to look at power alone.... then to even call you an insect would be an insult to insects everywhere. Perhaps an atom would be more accurate? No, that wouldn't make sense either. After all.... contained within the simplest of atoms is an abundance of energy."
Her will torn from her, Evelyn was completely reduced to nothingness.
'We just want to see the world burn.'
These words played over and over within her head, refusing Evelyn even the right to think straight.
"However.... fortunately for you, there is more to a person than strength. After all..... if we were to rank the worth of a person based on strength alone, then there wouldn't be any point in enslaving people."
The crimson demon stopped his own taunting, coming to a halt before Evelyn.
"Do you know why we keep insects like you alive?"
Evelyn looked up with terror as the demon licked his lips, bearing his horrible fangs with a crooked smile.
"It wouldn't be very fun to burn the world if there was nobody left to see it destroyed."
Extending a hand to Evelyn, the demon held a wicked expression.
It was wicked to the point where Evelyn wondered who in their right mind would take that hand.
Everyone and anyone would slap it away, going mad before taking such a hand.
Yet Evelyn grit her teeth and bore the humiliation, grasping that hand as she sold her soul to the demon before her.
"It's always fun to watch good people as they grit their teeth and are forced to do evil things. Make sure to put on a good show for us, Knight."
Helping her up, Evelyn felt a chill as she gripped the veiny hand of the demon.
It was as rough as sandpaper, and the clawed creature didn't spark even the slightest bit of reassurance within her.
She was scared.
On feeling this horrible hand, she was terrified beyond recognition.
She was not so terrified at the appearance of the man, nor of his horrible words.
The terror inspired within Evelyn was something much greater than the sight of a demon or the wickedness of the one before her.
It was in coming into contact with this hand that Evelyn realized it for herself.
This demon exists.
Evelyn knew well that the people before her were real.
She knew with every piece of her body that this was no nightmare.
Yet in grabbing this hand, the reality of the situation became all the more apparent.
"I..... see....."
Closing her eyes in submission, Evelyn lost her proud demeanor as a knight.
"I.... see."
Repeating her words, she forced her own body forward, not daring to look the people before her in the eyes.
"I.... see."
"Ah. Looks like we finally broke her. She's on repeat."
Without reading the mood, Ashley made a careless comment, watching as the woman of ice walked forward with slouched shoulders.
"Woman."
Samantha spoke up, with an annoyed tone.
The girl turned around slowly, with submissive expression.
"Yes, master?"
"Hey shithead. Give up just like that? Was that all it took? A little bit of fear and humiliation and you're all of a sudden our slave?"
Grabbing the woman by the icy hair on her forehead, Samantha brought her face close to the woman.
"If that was all it took, then I would feel bad for those who actually work hard to become our slaves."
"This isn't like you. Something wrong?"
Ashley asked with a lazy expression, her green eyes turning emotionless.
"Did.... something she did piss you off?"
"Yeah, it pissed me off. I just can't stand this pathetic thing existing in front of me. What happened to your goals? What happened to the fire in your eyes? Well? What, a couple beings of evil is all it takes to shut you up? A little threat to your people and you're a dog? HAHAHAHA!!!!! That ain't how it works!! If I wanted a loyal dog..... I would just control their minds."
Grabbing the cheeks of the woman with her demonic hand, Samantha stared into the eyes of Evelyn.
"Look at me. Look into my soul, woman. Look real good, because I ain't about to do none of this shit again. You hear me?"
Evelyn's expression went from emotionless to confused, landing on filled with worry and concern.
"What..... what do you want of me?"
"What do I want of you?"
Samantha smiled, flashing her demonic teeth as well.
"I want you to become someone worth controlling. As of right now, you are not such a person."
Throwing the woman aside, Samantha waved for the antiheroes to follow her.
"Change of plans. We're heading to the city of flames first. Clean up your act before we return here, woman."
"This.... was not within my simulations."
Trevor looked at his own screen with confusion, unsure about the actions of Samantha.
"Hahaha..... how strange. It seems that even with the world in my palms.... I still cannot predict the actions of my own woman."
"No point trying to figure her out. We have to go to the other city anyways. Who cares about a little change in the order?"
"Well, by the simulations a change in the order will not make a great difference in the results. This is acceptable. Knight of Iciclaris, I do expect a warm reception to be prepared for us when we return. And you had certainly better pray that your own actions do not disappoint my woman further, or I will have to take matters into my own hands."
----
Evelyn watched with wonder as the antiheroes floated into the air.
The antiheroes were not the only ones who floated into the air.
"Lazy people. Making me carry you. Tch."
The spiritual woman's voice grinded Evelyn's eardrums as she complained, holding out her hands.
It was then that the bodies of all the fallen flame elementals were lifted into the air, floating around in circular manner like planets around a star.
"Wha-"
"What's.... going on....."
"I.... urg..... don't feel.... so good...."
The flame elementals were lifted up by an invisible force, carried by the magical power of the spirit.
"Ah shut the hell up. This is a free ride. Don't you get it? Free. You ain't paying shit for my services, so shut the hell up and enjoy the damn ride back home."
"Agh!!!"
"It's getting faster!!!!"
"I'm..... definitely gonna be sick....."
The people began crashing into one another like asteroids, letting out shouts and 'oofs' as they did so.
Evelyn could do nothing more than watch as the four flew off, the original attackers of her city in tow.
But they would return.
And soon.
All too soon.
"I..."
Evelyn had for a moment lost herself, giving in completely.
Yet the words of that succubus resounded within her.
"Why..... why..... why!?!?!?"
Evelyn slammed her fist to the ground, questioning everything.
"Why the hell would she say something like that!?!?!?! I gave myself up to her!!!! I submitted to her!!!! I became her dog!!!!! And..... she didn't even want that!?"
Evelyn shouted to herself in frustration, however her own frustration was not with that demonic woman.
It was with herself.
She was so inadequate that she had allowed herself to sink to such a low state that even the insects would be repulsed.
She had sunk so low that even that succubus- that demon of domination, that queen of deception, had looked at her and been disappointed.
And yet, she called herself a Knight?
She was not a Knight. She was a failure.
From the moment she was born, she had failed to notice things around her.
That which she did notice, she didn't bother to take action.
When she had the power to do something she failed to do it, and when she didn't have the power to do anything she furiously struggled within herself.
"I'll take up your challenge, succubus."
Evelyn knew better than anyone exactly what she had to do.
She held no chance at winning.
She had not a single possibility of fighting them in combat.
Evacuating the people would only lead them to an inevitable death, so bowing down was the only option.
But even doing that wasn't enough.
Even bowing before these demons wouldn't please them.
"They truly are beings of chaos, aren't they? Hahaha..."
Evelyn almost found herself laughing, stopping herself before turning back to her own city.
"You wish to see something that goes beyond your expectations. Is that it? You are sick of dogs who lick your feet, despite the fact that you go around telling everyone to lick your feet? You are waiting for a tiger to spring up so that there will be worth in overtaking them? Fine then. I will meet your expectations."
With a light grin, Evelyn turned back to the city.
Looking around as she walked, she whispered quietly.
"Forgive me, my fallen comrades. I will not be able to avenge you, nor will I be able to protect the people of this city."
The smile on Evelyn's face grew as she entered the gates of the city, prepared for anything.
"My people..... I cannot protect you from them, but I can at least show you all the truth..... the truth of my own weakness."
----
Avarco was born into the city of Volaciophus without a father.
From the moment he was born, he only ever knew of his mother.
He was a bastard.
Not just a bastard, but he was the son of a rapist.
His own grandfather had killed his father after finding out about the rape, hunting him down and slaying him.
Avarco never knew this grandfather, for he was an old man at the time he was born, and the battle fought with Avarco's father took a toll on his health.
He died shortly after, and his last words were something which Avarco's mother hid from him.
"Why..... would you keep that shithead's son?"
"He is not just that mans son. He is my son."
"By keeping that child you will allow that man's blood to be carried on..... surely, you hate him!!"
"I.... cannot say that I do not hate that man. However, the sins of that man have nothing to do with the child in my stomach. This child.... is innocent."
Avarco's mother held her own stomach with a smile as her father turned over in his bed with a disappointed grunt.
"Ngh..."
The man soon died of age, leaving Avarco's mother alone and without any other family to take care of her son.
Even so, she raised him with care and love.
She never once looked at her son with hatred.
She never once regretted birthing the child.
And she never once compared him to his father.
Living in the slums of Volaciophus, Avarco grew up in a case of extreme poverty, yet never once did he feel like his life was unfair.
Avarco went to school just as all the other children did, and was raised without the slightest issue.
As one of the most polite and refined students, he became a favorite among all the teachers. He was intelligent and ended up staying behind after school to simply converse with the teachers about his own speculations.
Avarco was a genius.
He enjoyed the study of history, politics, and economics greatly. Anything which involved the study of the actions of people and the way they would react to certain stimuli was something he would always investigate, and the teachers around him were impressed by him.
"Avarco, what do you think about the new King? His name is Leroy, and apparently he recently obtained the blessing of the crystal of Envy."
"Do you not find it odd that it is called a blessing when it is based off a vice? It is certainly interesting that people will place a nice word on something in order to make it appeal to all who witness it. If one is to obtain the 'blessing of Envy', then it must be the case that their very mind was corrupted by some sort of horrid Envy. The same goes for any of the other hosts, no?"
"I.... That is a very unique opinion, Avarco."
"Which is why it brings up another question. Why exactly are those who exhibit such horrid traits the leaders of our very nation? Is this a mere ranking of power? Do the abilities which they are granted make it such that nobody can so much as rebel?"
"That's right. But there's more to it than just that. It's true that the people couldn't rebel against someone who has been chosen as a Host of Sin, but if there was a city here in the demonic realm that didn't have a host as a leader, then they wouldn't be able to defend themselves from the other demonic races."
"Is there not a treaty in effect? Would the demons not simply ally against anyone who tried to overtake another city?"
"That's true, but there's a certain balance to things. If there were only two cities who held hosts, would that treaty really hold any weight to it? The treaty is dependent on the power of the hosts being spread around evenly. If that isn't true, it will crumble."
"Hmm.... I suppose you are correct. I will have to give this more thought. Please excuse me. I will be doing more research on my own, and I will return to you with my findings."
"I look forward to seeing what you come up with!"
The teacher waved Avarco off after their discussion, smiling to himself.
'He's certainly different from all the other students. If I were to ask the same question to the other kids they wouldn't even think about it. They'd just shout out whatever without even thinking.'
Even from a young age, Avarco impressed those around him. He never fit in too well with the other kids because he was above their level of intelligence, but this did not bother him.
He was not weak or bullied, though he always found himself alone among the students. He preferred to spend his time with the adults, after all.
However on one occasion, on a hot day after school as Avarco was having a debate with some of the instructors, a man rushed into the school, panting.
"Avarco.... hah... hah.... is Avarco here?"
"Avarco is right there. Is there something you need from him? Who are you?"
One of the teachers answered in his place as Avarco stared at the man.
"Your mother.... has just been hospitalized. She.... she is in a bad spot. You should come immediately."
On hearing these words, Avarco immediately stood up.
"Forgive me, but it seems I will have to leave it at that for today. We will pick this up at a less pressing time. Indeed."
With a polite statement, Avarco rushed off to see his mother- to find her lying in a bed, hooked up to a magical device.
She was breathing heavily, and barely able to turn her head towards him with a motherly smile.
"Avarco.... why did you come to see me? Shouldn't you be at school with the teachers? I know you have a lot of fun when you're with them...."
"Mother, did you believe that I could simply sit back when you've been hospitalized? What on earth are you thinking? What is wrong? What kind of sickness do you have? Is it curable?"
"Even in this situation.... you're always searching for an answer."
"Mother.... please tell me."
"We can't afford it."
Avarco looked at his mother as his eyes widened.
"We.... can't afford it. Not with what I have. I..... it took everything just for them to treat me now. My entire.... life.... all the money I saved.. was used to extend my life for today. But thank you for coming, Avarco. I'll be discharged at midnight. I'm.... sorry..... I was hoping that you would come, so I went ahead and spent everything that I saved up.... for this one last day....."
"What.... what are you talking about, mother? You tell me that the issue is not that you hold some incurable disease, but that we cannot afford a cure? Do not.... do not joke like that, mother. Hahaha..... if money is the issue, then I will go into debt for you. I.... I will make all the money you need, and there will not be further issue!"
"Sorry son. I can't give credit. Come back when you're a little.... richer."
Avarco felt a hand on his shoulder, turning around to see an elemental in a white coat.
It was the head doctor of the hospital.
"What do you mean? Come back when I am richer? My mother is dying now. Are you not a doctor? Do you not see value in the life before you? I will work myself to the bone all my life to pay you back. I don't care how much it costs, I will pay you back without fail. So please, will you not treat my mother?"
Avarco got onto his knees, begging the doctor with fervor.
"Please."
"Without a history of credit, your word holds no value. Even if I were the type to allow you to pay me back, I would not do it for an unknown such as yourself. Your mother has until midnight. That is final. I will take her off the machine myself."
The doctor exited the room, leaving Avarco on his knees.
"How..."
Avarco's eyes were now filled with flames as a burning hatred raged within him.
"How is it possible for someone to hold such greed?"