ALL NOVEL Chapter 39: Rare specimen
The wind was gently blowing, making Akira's long white strands dance as he gazed at the horizon, sitting at the edge of the cliff. One knee drawn up against his chest, the other leg swinging in the void, he let his thoughts wander.
"How long has it been since I started this journey? Months? Years maybe... I don't even know anymore. The days all blend together when you're alone. This loneliness that slowly eats away at me..." he thought.
He looked up at the orange dusk sky, watching the clouds drifting slowly.
"I've had enough..." he murmured barely audibly.
Straightening up in one swift movement, he stretched long before flashing a faint smile.
"Well, shall we begin?" he said to no one in particular, before vanishing in an instant, leaving behind only the silence of nature.
************
Several kilometers away, in a small market town, the streets were bustling with activity. Merchants were shouting to promote their products, children were running between stalls, and travelers were haggling fiercely over prices. No one noticed Akira's appearance, suspended in the air, but tonight would mark the end of their kingdom, or rather the end of this world.
"Look, there's an angel in the sky!" exclaimed a child, pointing at the suspended figure.
At the moment Akira floated in the air, an innocent child noticed him and exclaimed with wonder: "Look, there's an angel in the sky!" His pure and naive voice attracted the attention of passersby who instinctively looked up. Akira's silhouette, bathed in sunlight, indeed created an angelic illusion. Akira watched this commotion with barely concealed amusement.
Whispers intensified in the crowd. "It's a miracle!" some whispered. "God is sending us a sign!" proclaimed others fervently. The initial wonder quickly turned into religious reverence, as several people were already kneeling in prayer.
Suddenly, the deep sound of a bell resonated through the city, vibrating the very air. It was not the usual chime marking the hours, but the emergency signal that most citizens had never heard in their lifetime: the toll of the state of emergency.
"State of emergency, but what's going on, darn it?" The panicked voice of a man broke the silence that had followed the bell's sound. Confusion began to spread among the crowd, faces shifting from wonder to concern.
And then they appeared: fifty knights in golden armor, their synchronized steps echoing on the cobblestones of the square. Their armors, forged in sacred metal, shone with a supernatural brilliance. At their head, a man with an imposing presence led their formation with an assurance born of decades of experience.
"Evacuate the citizens!" he commanded with a voice of authority, as his men deployed in formation. Drawing his sword, he stepped forward to face Akira. The blade of his weapon emitted a golden glow, attesting to its sacred nature.
"I am General Claust," he announced with a voice that carried to the farthest corners of the square. "What is the reason for your presence, demon?"
These words caused a shockwave in the crowd. "What?" "It wasn't an angel!?" "It's a demon!" Panic seized the citizens who, suddenly realizing the danger, jostled to flee the square. In this world, demons with human appearance were considered natural disasters, scourges whose terrifying stories were told to children to keep them on the right path.
Seeing this, Akira couldn't help but laugh, his laughter rising, a sound that was far from human. "Kekekeke... me, a demon... ahahahahahah" His icy laughter froze the blood in the veins of all who heard it. Even the fleeing people themselves stopped, paralyzed by this manifestation of pure malevolence.
"It's true, I am a demon," he confirmed, pausing before adding with obvious relish: "I am the demon god."
At these words, a wave of demonic energy surged through the square. The weakest of minds collapsed on the spot, their souls unable to bear such power. Others fell to their knees, overwhelmed by a primal terror.
General Claust, undeterred, raised his voice to rally his troops: "Fear not, sacred knights!" His voice carried a force that seemed to push back terror itself. "We are the guardians of this world. We shall purify this bastard demon god!"
A divine light enveloped the knights, their golden armors shining with an even more intense glow. This manifestation of sacred power created a protective barrier around them.
"Hmm, what's this!?" exclaimed Akira, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "By the way, how did you spot me?" He dismissed his own question with a casual gesture. "It doesn't matter anymore."
Taking a step forward in the air, he reached towards the city. "What if we reap the harvest?" A sphere of blood-red energy formed in his palm. "Reverse release: red."
Time seemed to freeze for a fraction of a second before a devastating explosion rocked the capital. The blast was so powerful that it instantly pulverized the nearest buildings, creating a shockwave that rippled concentrically through the city.
Thus began the fall of the greatest kingdom in this world, marking the beginning of an era of chaos and destruction that would forever change the destiny of this land. The capital of Lumaria, once a symbol of power and prosperity, was now nothing but a field of smoking ruins, the first testament to the devastating power of the demon god.
Half an hour had passed since the chaos began. The once vibrant city was now a scene of desolation - columns of black smoke rose towards the sky, cries of distress echoed through the streets littered with debris. The usual bustle had given way to a heavy atmosphere.
Akira advanced with measured steps, hands in his pockets, his face betraying no emotion. This kingdom, like so many before it, held no particular interest for him. Even the pleasures that once preceded his acts of destruction had lost their allure.
Arriving at the massive gates of the palace, he casually pulverized them before entering the compound. Though the castle seemed deserted, he confidently made his way to the throne room, guided by the presences he sensed.
Upon his entry, two guards rushed towards him. Effortlessly, he dodged their attacks and flung them against the walls with a simple wave of his hand. Panic gripped the occupants of the room, except for one person - a young woman of singular beauty. Her black hair with grayish hues framed a face of moon-like paleness, but what captivated Akira was her gaze - deep, emotionless black eyes. Her black dress further accentuated the whiteness of her skin.
The massacre that followed was methodical. In a few minutes, silence replaced the cries, the ground was covered in blood. Yet, the young woman remained unperturbed, observing the scene without showing any fear.
Intrigued by her demeanor, Akira approached her. With a finger stained with blood, he touched her cheek, finally causing a flinch. A smirk played on his lips before he turned away. No longer interested in the woman but of all the inhabitants of the kingdom, she was the only survivor.