Within a tent in the midst of a desert city, a bearded man wearing a white turban sat at his desk, reviewing documents.
"Hmm..... first the census..... and now the Indeterminant has sent message that he has left for the Alliance...."
Nodding to himself, this man let out a sigh of relief.
"Here I am, waiting around while he is off working hard for the sake of this nation. I will need to thank him once more when I next see him."
This man was Lakeed II.
The former Sultan of the Asarith Sultinate.
Having realized his own incompetence at ruling a nation, Lakeed had begged the Indeterminant to take control, thus throwing on this hero the responsibility of yet another nation to rule.
This, combined with his duties to fight against the Determined would have been nothing less than overwhelming for anyone else, however the Indeterminant had readily accepted the task.
"He truly is the savior of humanity."
Lakeed was a man who cared for his people more than anything, however in his own weakness he was unable to solve the issues of famine and drought. When appealing to the other nations, he allowed himself to be deceived and used by the new Emperor, Percius V.
After finding out about the plot of the Emperor, the Indeterminant had taken it upon himself to defeat the fiend and take control for himself.
"If nobody else in this world is willing to rule properly..... then I will have to do it myself."
Those were the words of the Indeterminant as he took control of each and every human nation.
His burden, without doubt, was not a light one.
Even with the hero of the Sultinate at his side, they were surely struggling to care for so many cities and people.
Yet they were heroes.
They sacrificed everything for the sake of the people.
Their bodies, their minds, and their souls.
'How could anyone be discontent with the heroes when they have done so much for humanity?'
These thoughts stormed into the mind of Lakeed, who thought to himself in silence on this crisp morning.
The heat had just begun to envelop into his tent, and he found himself sweating just slightly.
Fanning himself with his papers, Lakeed looked towards the entrance of his tent as he furrowed his brows.
"To those citizens who disagree with the actions of the Indeterminant..... they are nothing less than blasphemers. And to the politicians who hate him, they are simply jealous. They wished to hold onto their positions, and were enraged when they were taken away. They are like children when their parents tell them it's time to head back home from the house of a friend, screaming and crying without end over something inevitable."
Nodding to himself, Lakeed came to this conclusion.
It was preposterous for anyone to go against the hero of nations.
Anyone who did so was clearly not in tune with the times.
These were times of major change, and those who were stuck in the past era would be swept up by this new era.
"Anyone who refuses the protection which the Indeterminant extends is a fool who will be quickly overtaken by those monsters he will one day face."
The Indeterminant had saved the people of the Sultinate, and Lakeed was prepared to give his all to support the man known as his savior.
"Sultan, may I enter?"
A man stood at the entrance to the tent, to which Lakeed quickly turned his attention, speaking with loud voice in response.
"Do not refer to me as the Sultan anymore. I have rescinded such a position, and all rulership of these lands has been transferred to the Indeterminant. Enter."
Coming inside the tent was a man who was dressed in Arabic military attire. Wearing leather armor, a pointed hat, and a scimitar on his back, the man bowed his head as he addressed the man who once took the position of Sultan.
"I understand. Then.... Lakeed. I have a report. A new shipment of grain and drinkable water has just arrived, and should be distributed immediately."
"I see. Gather the people at the square. I would like to speak to them before the distribution."
"Understood."
The man immediately took off, at which Lakeed stood up, fixing his turban.
'I must ensure that the people of this nation understand just who has provided this food for us. The Indeterminant is truly..... our provider.'
----
"What's going on?"
"I heard that the Sultan..... no, I suppose the former Sultan ordered us to gather here."
"Hmm.... why do you think that is?"
"No idea."
The people looked around to one another, whispering as they awaited the arrival of the one who once led them.
In the beaming sunlight, almost everyone was heavily dressed with turbans, robes, and veils to protect their skin from the suns rays. This desert city, the walls of which were made from sandstone, appeared to be a paradise in the middle of a desert wasteland.
Many of the homes were large tents made from high quality embroidered textiles, though there were a number of buildings as well. This plaza was in the center of many sandstone buildings, and at it's front was a stage on which a number of guards stood waiting patiently.
Soon enough, the people watched as a troop of guards came forth with large carts of grain and tanks of water.
"Oh...."
"A new shipment of supplies...."
"So that is why we have been called here!"
The people looked around with excited smiles, delighted to see such gifts having been presented.
"To think that just weeks ago we were almost dead of thirst.... and now we have this much...."
Many were on the verge of tears just on seeing the carts, overwhelmed with the generosity of the one who provided such things.
To the people of the Sultinate, who were stuck in the worst drought in the history of the nation, this was nothing less than a miracle.
It was then that one man stepped out of hiding, walking forth as he ascended the stairs and took his place on the stage.
Wearing a white turban and an outfit made from highly expensive textiles, this bearded man smiled with gratitude as he looked onto his people.
"To my beloved people..... to the people of..... what is now the Vythguard Empire, under the rule of my liege, his grace, the Indeterminant, I stand before you today as a witness of his kindness."
The people were silenced as the former Sultan began his speech, stepping forward with teary eyes.
"When we were in need..... I struggled to solve our issues. I looked to every solution, tested every possibility.... and yet it was to no avail. This drought was an unsurmountable obstacle. An unsolvable problem. An issue which could not be overcome with the resources of the nation which was the Asarith Sultinate."
Clenching his fist and closing his eyes, the man deeply remembered the struggle he went through during those times, and more importantly, the struggle of his people.
"It greatly pains me that I had to watch as you all suffered from this drought. I could do nothing to fix it, and I was forced to sit and watch as our nations power dwindled and our people died."
Biting his lip with bitter expression, the man spoke with remorse, however looking up he opened his eyes, facing forward with resolve.
"At that time, I made a decision. That regardless of how shameless it was, that we would beg for aid from another nation and become indebted to them. We sent messengers to the Kingdom and to the Empire, in the hopes of receiving their sympathy. In doing this, we would have been greatly indebted to them.... but it would have been a small price to pay for the survival of the people of this nation."
The people watched with interest as the Sultan explained the state of the nation, and the reason for the current state of humanity.
"Yet.... when we extended our hand to these two nations, we were met with two responses. The Ruthobold Kingdom slapped this hand away, leaving us to die."
The people begun to whisper to themselves as the Sultan said this.
'Can they even call themselves human?'
'What kind of King is so coldhearted as to let so many people die without taking action? Even if it is for another nation....'
'That was Kyle Ruthobold, wasn't it?'
'He was the one who rejected the plea of the Sultan.'
Stepping forward, Lakeed continued his speech.
"However, rejection we had planned for. It was for this reason that we sent messengers to both nations, in expectation that one might reject our offer. However, with such an offer, these other nations would only serve to benefit! Our nation would be indefinitely indebted to them, and as such only a fool would reject it- however that was exactly what the man who led the Ruthobold Kingdom at the time did. Yet..... what I did not expect, was the reaction of the Emperor, Percius V."
Holding his forehead, Lakeed frowned with irritation.
"This man, Percius V, in contrary to the expectations of the Indeterminant, who was working with him at the time, took the hand we had extended to him in a plead for assistance. When the Ruthobold Kingdom had slapped that hand away, the Emperor took it with grace, caressed that hand, lifted us up..... and then....."
Making a chopping motion, Lakeed looked forward with a deadly serious expression.
"He chopped off that very hand which we had extended."
The people of the crowd looked on with disturbed expressions, murmuring to themselves.
"What a scumbag...."
"I can't believe he would do something like that...."
"To think he could do something even more inhumane...."
"For his own benefit....."
The people of the Sultinate had already been well informed of the actions of the Emperor and the overtaking of the Indeterminant as the new ruler of nations, however hearing it from the mouth of their former leader was enough to spark clear displeasure in those men who had so cruelly forsaken them.
Balling a fist, Lakeed dropped his next words onto the crowd, which hit like a bombshell.
"At that moment..... all hope was lost."
A wave of tension spread through the crowd, so thick that it could be felt. Not a single person whispered a single word, and the people's eyes were completely focused on the former Sultan.
"Yet..... when our hands had been slapped away and chopped off by everyone else..... there was one man who held out his hand for us, granting his healing power and restoring our damaged hand. There was one man in this world who would never betray humanity for his own benefit and profit! There was one man who, no matter how many riches were dangled before him, would always sacrifice himself for the sake of the people. And it is this man..... who leads this nation today."
Beaming with a smile as he waved over to the carts of grain, Lakeed stood forth with pride.
"That man is our savior, the Indeterminant."
As soon as he said this, a rally of cheerful cries erupted among the people.
"Yeah!!!!!"
"Indeterminant!!!!"
"The hero of humanity!!!!"
"Our savior!!!!"
"The one who defeated the evil men who stood at the top, the ones who rejected the pleading of those around them!!!"
"He is justice itself!!!"
"For the hero!!!!"
The shouts were loud and long, and the cries of the people were so filled with joy that even the former Sultan could not calm them down.
For the man who saved them from their plight, these people were infinitely indebted.
When nobody else would stand for what was right, there was the Indeterminant.
He was everything to them.
He was truly, justice incarnate.
Pumping a victorious fist, Lakeed then shouted out to the cheering crowd.
"It is the Indeterminant who has provided us with these gifts here!!! We owe him everything!!!! We owe him our lives, our property, our food, our water, our souls, our very beings!!!! HE IS OUR HERO, AND WE WILL GIVE EVERYTHING FOR HIM!!!!!!"
"YEAH!!!!!"
The crowd was spurred on at the fervor of their former leader, and the cheering continued.
"Even now, the Indeterminant is working with the Alliance!!!! He will soon enough defeat the Queen of Evil, the plague of this era!!! When he defeats her, humanity will no longer live in threat of the monsters of the West!!! The Hosts of Sin, the Demon Lords of prophecy, the era of chaos, it will all come to an end once the Indeterminant reins victorious!!!! And he WILL rein victorious!!! WHY!? WHY WILL HE REIN VICTORIOUS!?!?!?"
Turning the question to the people, Lakeed smiled as the people quickly answered with their shouts.
"BECAUSE JUSTICE ALWAYS DEFEATS EVIL!!!!!!!!!!"
"YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"BECAUSE THE HERO WILL ALWAYS DEFEAT THE DEMONS!!!!!!"
"YEAH!!!!!!!!"
"BECAUSE THE HUMANS WILL ALWAYS DEFEAT THE MONSTERS!!!!!!!!!!"
"YEAH!!!!!!!"
It was at that moment, as the people shouted out louder than they ever had in their lives, that the hour struck.
[10:00 AM]
In that second, as the people screamed and shouted, a blue blur descended from the sky, landing on the stage behind the Sultan with a large crash, sending vibrations through the plaza and causing the people to topple over, ceasing their shouting.
"Huh?"
"What.... is going on?"
"Ugh..... I feel dizzy...."
"Cough cough.... all this dust.... did something just explode on the stage!?"
"Sultan!! Are you alright!?"
Looking forth, the people stood up and watched the stage, which was now covered in dust.
As the dust cleared, they witnessed a scene which filled them with both fear and anger.
Standing before them, behind the Sultan, who had turned around to face the two in fear, were a couple of demons.
Dragonic demons who took a humanoid form.
The first was blue in color, and he grinned as he licked his lips, looking around at all the humans around him.
In his arms was a magenta dragonic demon with lime green hair, and she appeared to be half asleep, barely opening a single eye as she looked on the crowd.
"Justice always wins.... and the humans will always defeat the monsters..... eh?"
Picking his tooth with his clawed hand, the dragonic man smirked as he stepped forth, approaching the Sultan who was now stepping back in fear towards the edge of the stage.
"But let me ask you one thing, human. What notion made you assume that the humans are always on the side of justice?"
----
Demons.
This was the only word which could describe the two calamities which had just landed before the people of the Sultinate.
They were demons.
Monsters with power that no normal human could ever hope to face.
Why had they come to this place in the middle of the human realm?
Why, out of all the locations which they could have attacked, did they come here?
The Indeterminant was not present.
The location was in the middle of the human realm, making it one of the most inaccessible if monsters were to attempt an attack. Furthermore, this location was a place where these demons could be surrounded on all sides by enemies, with no path for retreat.
Attacking at this location could only mean one of two things.
Either they had already overtaken the rest of the human realm up to this place, or they were confident that nobody would be powerful enough to even face them.
The latter appeared to be more likely.
Even so, what if the Indeterminant were to realize that these attacks were occurring?
What if the hero rushed here to save the day, protecting the lives of the people from these monsters who attacked?
"What notion made you assume that the humans are always on the side of justice?"
These were the words of the blue dragon who stood before all.
"It is that very notion which has driven her eminence to hate all of humanity..... and it is for that reason which she has decided to exterminate you all."
The people were breathless as the dragon made this statement.
What could this possibly mean?
However, without even the time to process the statement, a voice entered the minds of the people.
[May I speak to them, Gormand?]
It was the beautiful voice of a woman, and these words were spoken with such elegance that the people found themselves in a daze for just a moment, yet there was also a sinister corruption within the voice.
"Of course, your eminence."
With a grin, the dragonic demon allowed the mysterious voice to take the floor, to which it begun to speak into the minds of all present.
[Humans..... you are so foolish. Not just humans, but monsters as well. Every being which holds intelligent life is like this. There exists not a single person in this world who believes that they could be anything but right.]
This statement was followed by a haughty laugh, one which pierced the hearts and souls of the people, filling them with terror of the one who spoke.
[If there is conflict..... the other side is in the wrong. If there is disagreement, the other side is greedy, selfish, only thinking of themselves. If there is suffering..... then it is because someone else created it. Is there a single human on this planet who doesn't think like this?]
Speaking with disgusted tone, the sound of spitting could be heard.
[HAHAHA! I have yet to meet one. And the results of this corrupted state? This condition where 'I am always right, and everyone who disagrees or opposes is wrong.' The result is this. A scapegoat is formed. A being of evil. An existence of chaos. Someone who is the very cause of all suffering. Heh..... heh heh heh... and that would be me.]
The people were completely frozen, forgetting to breath as they listened to the words of this woman.
They were tremendously captivating, and overwhelmingly evil.
Everything in their being was telling them that this woman was not someone they should so much as even speak against.
[So suffer, fools.]
It was at that moment that the blue dragonic demon stood forth, approaching Lakeed, who had fallen backwards, now looking back as he reached the edge of the stage.
And then, in an instant, without even having time to react, the head of the former Sultan was bitten off.
The crunching sound of the bones, the chewing of the flesh, the spraying of blood, and the gulp as the dragon finished his meal, patting his stomach with a delighted smile.
These things all played out before everyone, and watching this scene, they fell to the ground in realization.
[Where is the Indeterminant now? Hahaha..... your hero? He is nothing more than a politician. One who has painted himself as the very figure of justice. Justice always wins in the end? Cling to that ideal all you want. But take a look around you. Even if I am to lose to him, I would like to ask you one question.]
The woman laughed once more, her own demented mindset piercing the people like skewers into sausages.
[If everyone is dead, can you really say that justice prevailed?]
----
[Time Log]
[9:50 AM- People are gathered in the central plaza of former Capital of Asarith Sultinate for a speech given by the former Sultan]
[10:00 AM- The appearance of two Dragonic Demons in the former Capital of the Asarith Sultinate]
[10:03 AM- The death of the former Sultan after the Queen of Evil speaks to the people of this city, spreading despair in their hearts]
[10:07 AM- No survivors are found, and no hostages are taken. Every person in the city is killed without mercy.]