Chapter 19: "The Ruler of the World and the Return to the Beginning"
Twenty years had passed since the Gates of Hell opened and the monsters began to invade Earth. The planet had turned into a battlefield, but amidst the chaos, a new leader emerged. Azar, who had started as an ordinary individual discovering his power gradually, was now the absolute ruler of Earth. He sat on a throne made of pure energy, surrounded by knights who had sworn loyalty to him.
In this new world, Earth was no longer what it once was. Cities had become fortified with technology and magic, and societies had developed more than ever before. Under Azar's leadership, humans had managed to control the monsters and harness their power to build a new civilization. Azar was not only the leader, but also a symbol of power and sacrifice.
But behind this perfect world, there were shadows hinting at a terrifying secret.
The Great Game
One night, while Azar stood on the balcony of his palace watching the stars, he felt a strange presence. This wasn't the first time he had sensed something like this, but it was more distinct now. Suddenly, a figure appeared before him, dressed in a black cloak that concealed his face. His voice was deep and imposing:
"Azar, do you know you're just a pawn in a bigger game?"
Azar didn't seem surprised. Instead, he looked at him with confidence and said:
"Who are you? What do you mean by that?"
The mysterious man smiled. "I am the nominal ruler, the master of the universes. Everything you've gone through, everything that happened on Earth, was a test. I wanted to see how far humans could withstand pressure. I wanted to test you, Azar, to see if you deserved your place in this universe."
Revealing the Truth
The nominal ruler raised his hand, and before Azar appeared scenes from the past. He saw himself fighting the monsters, leading humans, and forming alliances. But he also saw how every step he took had been controlled. Everything had been pre-planned. Even the gates that opened were just part of a massive experiment.
Azar shouted in anger: "If you knew everything, why did you let us suffer? Why did you make us go through this hell?"
The nominal ruler answered calmly: "True power comes from pain. I wanted to see if humans could evolve or if they would remain trapped in their weakness. And you, Azar, proved that you're different. But now, it's time to put things back in their place."
Back to the Beginning
Before Azar could respond, the nominal ruler raised his hand again. Time began to rewind at an unimaginable speed. The cities that were built collapsed, the monsters vanished, and the wars fought by humans were erased from existence.
In a single moment, Azar found himself standing in the same place he had been twenty years ago. Time had gone back to the day the gates had first opened. But this time, Azar was no longer an ordinary person. He carried the memories of everything that had happened.
The Conclusion
As he stood there, Azar realized he had a second chance. But he wasn't sure whether he would use that chance to save Earth again or to destroy the system that the nominal ruler had set in place.
In his eyes, a new spark ignited. A spark that had never been there before.
"If this is a game, then I'll be the one to set the rules."