Dawn- An age of Darkness
Chapter 54 - My Life, My Choice

"OH? YOU WOULD ABANDON THESE PEOPLE AND RETURN HOME?" It almost sounded comical. A demon lecturing me about abandoning people? It really was hypocritical.

"I-I don't owe them anything…it would be pointless to waste my life for theirs…" My argument was sound. This world was pretty screwed as it is. The gods had almost abandoned it and monsters were everywhere. It will probably be better without a guy like me.

And yet, when I said that, my heart pounded so hard, that it was as though it wanted to leave my chest.

"THEN YOU WOUDNT MIND ME KILLING THEM ALL RIGHT?" I saw white teeth on his pure black cloak. He wasn't kidding, not one bit.

"What?" I was dumbfounded. He'd kill all of them if I say no?

But before I could process the whole thing, he let out a faint dark aura and brought out his sword, immediately slicing through all the people there. Pale darkness blinded the light as a sword darker than night, moved faster than anything I'd ever seen.

Without a moment's delay, all their heads flew. After a few seconds, blood gushed out. I remained stunned. As if realizing that they were dead, the bodies fell on the ground not moving an inch.

It wasn't true that I didn't owe them anything; the people I owed already died because of me. Dune, Sheila died because of me. The villagers suffered and died, because of me. Lianne risked her life because of me. Those four saved my life and risked theirs. And yet I say I don't owe them anything? How much of a scum am I? At least my thoughts were more honest than I was.

Playing spectator wasn't going to get me anywhere. I needed to make my decision. Go back to my peaceful world and abandon everything or live through this hell and save as much as I could, were the only two options; one was easy and the other a hellish nightmare. I was no hero and I never intended to be one. But I couldn't bear to see innocent people die because of me; not again.

I grunted and smiled. Besides, there's nothing for me left there. I had steeled my resolve. "Very well. I will play your stupid game." It took me a lot to say those words but I didn't stutter. I didn't stutter even for a second. Did I want this, deep down? Did I want to save the people I knew nothing about?

"IT TOOK YOU SOME TIME BUT ATLEAST YOU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE."

He stopped in his tracks after slaying about a few dozen people around me. His dark sword stopped right before he could slice off another head and dripped blood on the floor. The lucky man let out a scream and passed out on the stone pavement.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"IF YOU HAD CHOSEN TO RUN BACK HOME THAN THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT YOU WERE A BORING PERSON. AND I HATE SUCH MEN. THUS YOU WOULD HAVE DROPPED DEAD. SO CONGRATULATIONS." It sounded comical yet the gravity was rather strong.

I suppose I should have known that. I evaded an immediate game over by sheer dumb luck and determination. That didn't make me happy for a second. Because of me, people were on the ground, dead. All of that was my fault! How could I have been glad to hear that?

"NOW LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR. YOU HAVE BUT ONE YEAR. IN THIS PERIOD THE DEMON ARMY WOULDN'T WAGE WAR. BUT AFTER THAT I WILL DECLARE WAR ON THIS WORLD. AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP ME WOULD BE TO KILL ME. STOP ME IF YOU CAN. AH AH AHAH!" His sadistic laughter echoed throughout the land.

But there was something which was bugging me from the very first day. There were a lot of questions I wanted to know about, however, this was probably the most important one. "Can you tell me one thing?"

"YES?"

"Why me?"

"NO PARTICULAR REASON. I JUST PICKED PEOPLE OUT OF RANDOM."

And yet that important question had no value. I was nothing but an average idiot after all. "So there were more people besides me?"

"NOW THEN, I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE LEAVING. DO YOUR BEST AND DON'T DISAPPOINT ME."

He left as a sinister laugh echoed throughout the land, yet again. He didn't wait for me to answer or anything. But one thing was clear. It would be more than just impossible to even stand up to him as I was.

The sky became normal but the clouds remained. And soon rain fell on my face. The blood on the road flowed along with the rain, making a light red color.

My heart didn't race anymore, my body didn't quiver. Something was wrong with me.

Most of the people, who were here, died. Only a handful survived yet they were frightened beyond reason. The corpse in the alleyway disappeared as well. A few moments later a band of knights led by that large man came by and formed a ring around me. Wasn't he that man who beat up Seel? That guy was leading these men apparently.

They pointed their spears at me. I bet they think I caused all this commotion. Honestly, I couldn't blame them even if they did.. Because this time, it really was me.