WARNING! The following content may contain spoilers from one of the chapters present in the story "Glory in War". To avoid even the smallest inconvenience, leave now and come back after you have finished reading (at least) up to Chapter 18 (Part 2).

9 YEARS AGO

07.02.1633

The Southeast Military Base

15:24

"So many years have passed since that day, yet it feels like it happened not a few hours ago every time I'm thinking about, over and over again, like an inescapable nightmare which haunts you every single second of your life. And yet... it had to happen one day, right? It's not like someone could've just changed the future the way one wants.

Believe it or not, I, just like all the others, was a simple child of this city, a soul trying to survive by each passing day. But I had dreams even back then, which I wished they didn't come true. Huge dreams that M1NERV4 made them possible, our dear goddess who watches over us, fallen warrior of the past. It's not like I blame Her for the present, but I can't say She is innocent either. Yet I pray to Her, better than praying to a god which nobody knows the truth behind, the so-called "God of War".

I was... young, truth to be told, but I can't say I'm old now either. In the eyes of the newcomers, especially those who were four years older than me, I was a gifted child, but a complicated one for sure. For those who found that CHE5TER LENKOV from the board in front of their own eyes, everything was starting to make sense: it's obvious that the son of the Great Leader will make sure he does his best to be the best. Still... they surely didn't stop asking questions or teasing me a little bit, but at least they weren't having bad intentions this time. And, of course, because of the rules of our base, none of them could tell anybody about my identity, nor say any kind of information about our working building, so it was a... welcomed feeling knowing that the citizens won't see me different than them.

But like I said, I had huge dreams, and some even started to become true. Ever since I was six, I've trained with Master AL7AN to join and become the next Leader of the Southeast Base, that so I can work alongside my own father and the people I knew the best to achieve my dream of seeing the world. One for sure became true when I took my exams some years before. The other one I still had to wait a bit till I can do something about it, but I had a chance. Master AL7AN was retiring soon, though I wasn't so sure of how soon, but he was the one who promised me this title. I never knew why he had to retire, it was a secret of his that he didn't want to tell me that early.

As to who he was... well... it was a bit complicated. I needed some time to process his true identity the first time I heard about it too. He was an old thief of the City of Above, an M born who was committing crimes to his own kind. When they got him, he was convicted immediately alongside my kind, the C borns, but he was saved by my father. To pay for His generosity, he promised my father that he will fight alongside Him. Later on, they both became close friends and he was named the Leader of the Southeast Base, though some of his bad habits still remained to this very day. But he is respected, even with his past, as he led the base for years now and you can't tell he did a bad job.

But... that's kind of it. That's my whole story of the past: a child with a dream, one who wished to discover the truth behind this world and stay alongside the ones he loves. I was... naive... to put it simple. I never knew what was the deal with this war every being was talking about. I wasn't fighting for it, rather, I was simply fighting to become like my models in life and achieve my biggest dream. The war never moved me as I didn't care that much about it back then. Foolish me to think that it can simply avoid me and never affect me, wasn't I? A war has no mercy to anyone alive, you are the one who has to fight against it rather than run from it.

That morning started pretty much the same as the others, it wasn't something out of the ordinary. RY4N and I were simply minding our business around the hallway of the building. Of course, as the two sons of the Great Leader, the people there were giving us some special attention. Wherever we went, no matter how busy a person can be, one never forgets to give us a small greeting. Some even stop their conversations between each other even if they are important, just to greet us. RY4N wasn't really minding it, but for me it was a bit annoying seeing people treating us differently just because of who our father was. I never understood the meaning behind people calling us titles like "Master" or "Young Master". It was like we were some rich brats and all the people here were only slaves to us. I just couldn't bear this idea which was taught from generation to generation in our bloodline. Even now I can't support it, but I had to accept it and live with it.

But anyway... it's not like I could change the way people behave at that age. After all, who will listen to a 14-year-old, right? Passing over what was annoying to me back then, what truly started the morning that day was a woman who came to us only to announce me something."

[TH3A]-Young Master CHE5TER! There you are!

[CHE5TER]-Huh? Miss TH3A?

[TH3A]-Your master, Mr. AL7AN, told me to inform you that you have to come to his office immediately. I suggest you go and see what he wants.

[CHE5TER]-Isn't it a bit... too early in the morning to see him now? What does he want anyway?

[TH3A]-He... didn't tell me. He just said that you have to come.

[CHE5TER]-Oh, dear... What could he possibly be plotting now?

[RY4N]-Maybe he wants you to train?

[CHE5TER]-This early? Hell no! I'd rather listen to the fairy tales told by our father than wake up and start training in the next second!

[RY4N]-Then I don't know! Maybe he wants to tell you something?

[CHE5TER]-If so, what's the hurry? Yeesh... Let's just see what he wants at this point.

[TH3A]-Actually, I'm afraid you have to go alone. Young Master RY4N can't join you this time. It is your master's command.

[CHE5TER]-WHA... Okay! Fine! I will do as he wishes! You are free to go, Miss TH3A!

The woman then bows to the Young Master as she leaves both of them alone. CHE5TER seems a bit annoyed as always, yet RY4N can't help but tease him a little.

[RY4N]-Uuu, you got in trouble again!

[CHE5TER]-SHUT UP!

[RY4N]-What else would he want then?

[CHE5TER]-I don't know, play with my brain again? What will you do while I'm gone anyway?

[RY4N]-Aren't you always gone while I'm left behind? I'm sure I will find something to do just like the usual.

[CHE5TER]-Yeah, yeah, make fun of me too now.

[RY4N]-Well, isn't it true? Why are you always leaving in the city alone anyway?

[CHE5TER]-I just like exploring, okay? What's wrong with that?

[RY4N]-I don't know, what's wrong with reading books then?

[CHE5TER]-...You are pissing me off sometimes, did you know that? I will see you later.

[RY4N]-Hey, don't be mad now! You know I'm just kidding!

[CHE5TER]-Yeah, yeah...

"It wasn't something new of my master to just put someone else to bring me to him. He just liked to do that more often because he liked to tease me a little bit as well. Every time he does it, you don't know what to expect. It could be bad news, it could be good news. You never know what's in his mind until you see him. I mean, what could you expect from a former thief anyway?

I had some difficulties getting used to him as a person in general too. The way he led was considered strange by me back then, and the way he was collecting information from the others. But now it seems to me as the best way to do so. After all, I took some of his bad habits as mine.

As a person, he was manipulative, something that he uses when he wants to achieve something. When a person is hard to get through for him, he uses one's advantages and disadvantages against them, controlling their minds as he pleases. The better you know the person, the better you can control him. That's... what I've learnt to do from him as well. That's what I'm using when I want to get information from anybody in the city, and I'm... guilty for that. But when your desire controls your life, there is no way back.

Other than that, of course, is stealing. It isn't something that I admired him for, but it was normal for a thief, right? He had his moments in the past when even I caught him stealing around the city when we were out together. In the end, it was either me or my father who was paying for whatever he was taking. What exactly did my father see in him? I still don't know. But He never gave up on him for a reason that is still unknown to me. Maybe... just maybe... he managed to manipulate Him as well."

15:36

And so, young CHE5TER enters a room in which a man was standing on a chair in front of a desk. A man with green eyes and white hair, with his skin being with a darker colour.

[CHE5TER]-You wanted to see me, Master?

[AL7AN]-Isn't it obvious, CHE5TER? Come in! Take a seat!

[CHE5TER]-I would rather like to know what's happening so I can go back to my brother than stay here for a long time.

[AL7AN]-Why so impatient? You don't enjoy staying with me?

[CHE5TER]-Mm... Not really...

[AL7AN]-Oh, don't lie to my face. I know how you love for your teacher to take from his time and stay with you. In the end, if you didn't like it, you wouldn't have come here, would you?

[CHE5TER]-Well, I don't like your brain games, that's for sure...

[AL7AN]-Hahahah... You consider it a game, yet I see it as a way of opening the mind of a person in a way that they cannot even imagine, revealing even the darkest secrets of--

[CHE5TER]- --Blah, blah, blah... I already heard all of that before! What do you want from me?? Get to the point!

[AL7AN]-...Oh. I don't want anything.

[CHE5TER]-Eh!? You called me here for nothing at all!??

[AL7AN]-Well, maybe you wish to play a bit Glory in War with me if you still came all the way here.

[CHE5TER]-I knew you were plotting something...

[AL7AN]-Oh? How so?

[CHE5TER]-Because you are always doing this? Are you really that blind or are you just playing dumb?

[AL7AN]-Hey now. That's not how you talk to your master. Tell me, why do you wish so badly to go and leave this room?

[CHE5TER]-To stay with RY4N?

[AL7AN]-No. I want you tell me the truth.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* I-I don't...

[AL7AN]-Hm? What was that?

[CHE5TER]-...I don't know, alright!?

[AL7AN]-That's better! See, little one? You don't wish to go anywhere now, but you still want to hide that from me.

[CHE5TER]-I really hate when you are playing with me like this, Master...

[AL7AN]-Hate it or not, you will see that it will help you later on. Maybe you don't understand it now, but you will do when you get older.

[CHE5TER]-Yeah... I will become a great thief like you if that's gonna happen.

[AL7AN]-Hey! I wasn't just a thief, you know? Besides crimes, I was a simple being too!

[CHE5TER]-Yeah... Besides crimes... Actually, how did you even end up Leader in the first place anyway??

[AL7AN]-Mmm... Curious much, aren't we? Would you wish me to tell you why I really called you here?

[CHE5TER]-Yeah, avoid the question...

[AL7AN]-I called you here because I was thinking that maybe we can go out for a while before your father and I have to go to the meeting of the Council. What do you think?

[CHE5TER]-I mean, a drink doesn't sound that awful now...

[AL7AN]-*chuckles* Why do you like drinking so much anyway?

[CHE5TER]-After a day with you, which person in this world do you think can resist the rest of the hours left without going crazy? Seriously now...

[AL7AN]-Am I really that bad of a person in your eyes? 'Cause your father doesn't seem to mind my actions at all.

[CHE5TER]-He has superpowers, I don't know! But I'm NOT paying for your shit again!

[AL7AN]-Oh, is that so?

The man then shows him a small bag of money that he possesses in his hand. CHE5TER looks shocked a bit and starts searching around his body for a reason only he knows, only for him to understand that his suspicions were right.

[CHE5TER]-HEY!! THAT'S MINE! GIVE IT BACK!!

[AL7AN]-Not so fast! How about we make a deal for it? Hm?

[CHE5TER]-NO! I DON'T WANT YOUR DEALS! GIVE MY MONEY BACK!!

[AL7AN]-How about... when we get back to the base, you train with your weapon until I come back from the meeting and finally learn how to make that move which you didn't succeed in the past?

[CHE5TER]-Yeah, whatever, just GIVE IT BACK ALREADY!

He gives the young boy a smile as he succeeded into tricking him to train the next hours by himself, and then gives him the bag back. CHE5TER looks inside of it, far from his master to know he won't take it again, but as he looks, he realises that a new problem has appeared.

[CHE5TER]-HEY! SOME MONEY ARE MISSING!!

[AL7AN]-You will get them back. Promise!

[CHE5TER]-...You better give them back as you said!

[AL7AN]-Oh, I didn't say from me. I only said that you will get them back. If you work a bit at a bar nearby, maybe you can get them in like... two hours back?

[CHE5TER]-*mumbles*

[AL7AN]-Oh, well. Let's meet up with your father and go to Mr. AD4M for a rest. It's on you this time after all.

The Underground City

17:45

"Going out together wasn't something rare either. My father and my master usually took us both to Mr. AD4M, a retired man who used to work in the Southeast Base and who opened his own bar after he left. To my surprise, even though he has some years in the base, he told me once that he never saw my father until not long before RY4N and I became His children, somewhere between 20 or 10 years before, I've estimated. From him I've learnt that the previous Great Leaders never showed their faces to anybody, a reason why they are lost in history, and a reason why I never found who the descendant of M1NERV4 was, who was the first LENKOV. It seemed to me that my father, M4TTH3W LENKOV, wanted to bring a change to this odd tradition and be the first one to show His face to those that He works with.

Of course, the city still doesn't know who the Great Leader is, only those that work with us. I wonder how the previous Great Leader saw this idea of His though. Was His father acceptable with this change? I never knew Him anyway. Rather, it begs even more questions to my mind this information too. My master was chosen by my father, but he never told me when exactly he first joined the base, yet Mr. AD4M seems to know him for ages. And other than that, what change was in my father's mind anyway?

The title itself seemed a bit confusing to me too. The "Great Leader" is a title that young me never understood. I got that it represents some kind of a ruler over the whole city and the one that is responsible of everything that involves it, but... why does it exist? M1NERV4 was the first one to achieve this title if we don't put into consideration the tale about the "God of War", but was it really necessary for it to exist? People really needed to rely on one person rather then to work together?

What I understood from it was that one of the sons will be the next one to get it, that being pretty obvious. But I never knew who was going to take it. If it was based on how we think certain situations, then RY4N was the perfect Great Leader. The age was the same between us, yet I was the Error in the code, so another bonus for him. He was probably the best option from us, and I didn't mind. I only wanted to be the Leader of the base so I can work alongside my father for a while until He was suppose to give the title to RY4N. Not only that, but I thought that we will have a lot of time left until he will be chosen for the title.

But, back to what we were doing there... Of course I was still a bit mad at my master for stealing my money earlier, but again, I had to get used to his bad habits. At least he bought me a drink from these money rather than letting me waste more, but of course he bought himself one too from them. I let it be, what could I do anyway? In the end, I only stood and talked to my brother as usual while the adults were talking about business. But this time, I didn't really pay attention to whatever they were talking there, and I regret not doing so."

The barman doesn't seem to be present though, only the Great Leader and the Base Leader stand together for a drink while chatting, with the teens being on a separated table far from them. The Great Leader seems rather down, while His drinking buddy only stands to look in front of himself.

[AL7AN]-...I know you have something in mind, M4TTH3W. You've been pretty silent lately and don't seem to be in a good mood either. Why do you refuse to say it?

[M4TTH3W]-Heh... You know me well, don't you? I'm not even able to hide my feelings now.

[AL7AN]-Do not avoid my question. I'm only trying to help you after all.

Yet the Great Leader only looks at a half-empty glass on the table which was standing in front of Him, one that He has ordered in order to relax. It's obvious that He has something to say, but doesn't know how to say it. And so, He dares to speak.

[M4TTH3W]-I'm simply... afraid of the future, friend.

[AL7AN]-And why so? Why do you say that all of a sudden?

[M4TTH3W]-Why do you act like you are not afraid of it though? It's not like you can predict what's going to happen, nor that anybody can do it. I mean... our kind has feared this thing called "future" for centuries now. Why is it such a new information to you?

[AL7AN]-Heh... Why are you so afraid anyway?

[M4TTH3W]-It's impossible for me to say I have nothing to fear, AL7AN. My time as the Great Leader is slowly fading away by each second that passes and I fear that they both are not prepared for what's worst to come either.

[AL7AN]-You are saying it like you know something that I don't, friend.

[M4TTH3W]-*sigh* Look... There is a new mission that I would like you to prepare this night. I found someone in the City of Above who was talking about something regarding the General's plan being hidden somewhere in one of their buildings.

[AL7AN]-Mm... If it is the same building that I'm thinking about, I might fear we won't be able to get it so easily. That scumbag sure knows how to protect his shit...

[M4TTH3W]-That's why I won't put you or your people to find it. I will.

Yet even the Leader gets surprised by that response. So because of the shock he had, he stops drinking whatever he ordered and looked so confused at the deep void, before turning his view towards the serious ruler that was simply standing next to him, watching the half-empty glass.

[AL7AN]-...You are kidding me, right? Whoever goes there alone is doing pure suicide attempt. I even lost many people in that building before, simply trying to find what's in it. I get the past and everything that you've told me about, but why would you wish to do that? No matter what you experienced and refused to tell me, nor to anybody else, it could not make you take such a decision out of nowhere.

[M4TTH3W]-...Let's just say that I... still have some unfinished business with the General. That's all.

[AL7AN]-You're joking. You have such a bad sense of humour. Are you even aware of what you are saying? Business or not, I can't approve this mission myself, let alone all the others. Are you out of your mind, or did you get drunk for the first time? Because this is not such a simple decision as you might think it is. Think about the city that needs you at the moment. Think about your own children! What will happen to all of these if you truly die?

[M4TTH3W]-...I won't die if I'm being protected from the outside by your team, will I?

[AL7AN]-M4TTH3W, have you gone insane? I can't protect you even if I get the best people in the city. I can't do anything to make sure even a single person gets out alive from that building. The General has no mercy in the end, no matter who you think you are. Are you even listening to me?

[M4TTH3W]-...Remember the thing I gave you a while ago? The one that I made you to take a burden that was stuck on my soul?

[AL7AN]-Yes. I remember. And I promise I will do as you said, friend. But right now it's simply... not the time. You have to understand that, M4TTH3W.

[M4TTH3W]-...I'm sorry, AL7AN. But I have to do it. No matter what you tell me.

[AL7AN]-...

"...These were maybe the last words that I could've heard from His mouth if I paid attention that time, the last words spoken by my own father... before He left the bar alone for me to never see Him ever again."

The City of Above

38:04

Now, we are witnessing the mission the two were talking about, as a soldier of the M walks around the building in cause, greeting every person that passes by. Everywhere you look, there is always at least one soldier standing in front of your eyes, being the most guarded building in this entire city that ever existed. But this soldier seems a bit unusual than the others. He arrives at a door guarded by two other soldiers not long after though. In order for them to leave, He tells them a small information, something close to "the General wished to see you both". And so, after they leave, the soldier enters the unguarded door unnoticed, before finally starting doing His job.

The room is filled only with darkness though, hard to see anything in it. So, He takes a device close to a flashlight and opens it to generate some light, only for Him to find a desk and a chair in the whole room. But He expected it surprisingly, He expected all of this, as He puts His hand on the desk to activate a circle on it. He doesn't press it though, He only takes something from His clothes first which He puts it on His hand. Then, He finally puts His arm on the circle, only for it to begin to scan His hand. Not long after, a green light flashes two times and a hologram of a whole screen appears in front of His eyes.

He is rather amazed that it actually worked as He intended, but there is no time to celebrate it, since for some reason, something now is feeling wrong. Or rather... someone... as He begins to feel weaker and weaker for an unknown reason. He then searches in every single document He finds there until He finally gets into the one which He was planning to get from the beginning. But as He reads it deeper, He gets rather in shock just in a few seconds. But what could possibly be in that document to scare the Great Leader Himself?

Yet then, the General himself and the two soldiers, who were suppose to guard the door, enter the room only to find that strange soldier looking at the files paralysed. But He sees them too not long after, so He tries to run in vain as the soldiers get Him before He could leave. The General then looks at Him as He tries to escape, but He is too weak to even do anything than just move. Then, he takes His disguise off which was a wig and some of the equipment used by the M soldiers, only for him to see the Great Leader in front of him. But he doesn't seem pleased that he caught Him, nor mad. Rather... unhappy for an unknown reason.

[C4E5AR]-So it was you after all.

[M4TTH3W]-...

[C4E5AR]-What was in your mind when you came here anyway?

[M4TTH3W]-...What was in your mind when you've started all of this, C4E5AR?

Yet the General doesn't respond. He simply looks in disgust, but also disappointment at the ruler, before finally speaking again.

[C4E5AR]-...I hope you knew what was going to happen to you if I caught someone sneaking into my own building and try to steal my things.

[M4TTH3W]-I knew. I knew very well. That's why I came here in the first place.

[C4E5AR]-...

The General is a bit confused, and... shocked by His response at the same time. Though nobody saw these two powerful titles ever interact with each other before, they do seem as they have a past together for some time now. Maybe that's why the General was so unhappy. But he remembers what he has to do in the end, and so he orders to the two soldiers to take Him away.

[C4E5AR]-...Take him to the center and announce the soldiers that a public execution is coming. We will make sure that his death is a quick and painless one.

The soldiers were confused on such request though, but did as the General said. And as they leave, he remains alone in the room, contemplating about the man's words asking one question to himself.

[C4E5AR]-...Then why did you do it?

And yet, on the other side of the mission, where all the team members were suppose to either supervise the area or help the ruler, the information about the ruler being caught does seem as it got to them too. So, as a consequence, everyone is panicked as they found out about the situation of the Great Leader's fate.

The Leader then tries to think of a way to save Him, and the only way He knows is a execution room which he has to put his people go through. So, he orders everyone to get ready to face whatever it will happen at the building where that room is located. Being the Great Leader in the game, they will try to save Him at all costs. After all, His white hair puts Him in a more dangerous fate than all the others since He has the sign of revolution against the General himself. It was this thing that he warned Him about.

38:47

The Great Leader is now accompanied by a young soldier, kept in handcuffs so He won't escape, walking now on one of the streets of the city towards His end. But by each second it passes, He seems even weaker than before. Yet He doesn't mind that. He only looks at the young soldier before starting to talk.

[M4TTH3W]-...What's your name, little one?

Yet the soldier doesn't seem to want to talk though, as he is very serious about his job. So He is rather disappointed that He cannot exchange a word with him even for a few seconds. But to His surprise, he begins to talk, which puts rather a smile on the ruler's face.

[DU5TIN]-...DU5TIN.

[M4TTH3W]-DU5TIN... That's a nice name you have. Who named you?

[DU5TIN]-My master.

[M4TTH3W]-Your master?

[DU5TIN]-...Yes. My master. General C4E5AR.

[M4TTH3W]-Oh? So you are the descendant of his title?

[DU5TIN]-...

Yet the boy seems a bit annoyed by that question, so he doesn't respond to the man's puzzle. Seeing that, the ruler makes a small pause, before changing the subject.

[M4TTH3W]-...I have a small question that I'm having troubles with. Do you mind it?

[DU5TIN]-...?

[M4TTH3W]-Well, you see... when I meet someone new, I'm used to get to know even the smallest information regarding the person in cause. A force of habit if you like... So, mind if I ask for your blood code?

[DU5TIN]-...You are currently being taken to be executed by the General. Are you seriously interested in that information so badly?

[M4TTH3W]-Yes, I am. I do not mind the situation in which I am at all. So what do you say?

[DU5TIN]-I'm... afraid that I cannot answer that question. I am only here to do my duty.

The young soldier sure was confused on the situation, but the ruler seemed so relaxed for a reason or another. And for another strange reason, He was looking at the boy's right arm, noticing something that only He can see, before starting to smile again and talk once more.

[M4TTH3W]-Then what about a small game? Until we arrive at our destination. How does that sound?

[DU5TIN]-A game...?

[M4TTH3W]-Yes! I am going to try and guess your blood code until we arrive. When we do so, it will put the end of this game and you will win, but if I guess it, then I win. Is it fine by you?

[DU5TIN]-...There is one in a billion chance of you guessing it. Why bother?

[M4TTH3W]-It's not like we have anything better to do, or that you do not do your duty while playing it, right?

The boy was still confused at the strange offer of the man, but since it really doesn't affect him in any way, he nods one time at Him, before He starts the game He wished to play.

[M4TTH3W]-Alright. Let's start with some elimination first... Does your code contain any "O"?

[DU5TIN]-...No.

[M4TTH3W]-What about an "A"? Or an "L"?

[DU5TIN]-No.

[M4TTH3W]-What about an "8"?

[DU5TIN]-Still no.

Though the boy is sure that the man will lose, the ruler seems pretty confident in what He is doing. So, He looks with such a gentle face at the boy after, before guessing for the last time.

[M4TTH3W]-...What about "E64NF72Z"? M born of the date 13th of the 5th month, 1618?

And with that response, the boy got in shock in such a short time, without any other word needed.

[DU5TIN]-H-How did y-you...

[M4TTH3W]-From the look on your face, it looks like I've won the game, haven't I? Maybe next time, left Error. Maybe next time... but obviously, not with me. Maybe with your brothers, what do you think?

[DU5TIN]-...

The young soldier can't even believe his ears the moment the man stopped talking. It's been four years since he met the two strange kids that called him "brother". He didn't forget about that incident, but he wanted to refuse to ever think about it again. Now he meets a man who is possibly their father as well? Or rather, the father he could've grown with, who now, from His confident smile, grew such a sad expression, before speaking again.

[M4TTH3W]-...I'm... sorry I couldn't take you as well that day. I really am... I've tried everything in my power to do it, yet I still couldn't succeed. All these years I've wondered what happened to you after I ran away to save myself, but I never imagined you will end up in his hands... *sigh* But this is fate, isn't it? Such a cruel one... Yet I want you to know something, DU5TIN. And do listen to me. The people who raised you are lying. So please, don't believe everything they say. No matter what they tell you, believe only in your words. You have the fate to change this cruel world, little one... And to think that even you are obligated to take part of this war just because of my mistakes, huh? Maybe if I took you in time... you could've just lived a simple life. Will you... ever forgive me?

The soldier doesn't respond though, as He left him without any words in his mind. A man that is about to die and yet He doesn't care about anything but to say what's in His mind to an unknown person to Him. He then looks away with such sorrow, as the soldier won't respond no matter what He says. But even so, He talks to him one last time.

[M4TTH3W]-...Can I ask you one last thing?

[DU5TIN]-...?

[M4TTH3W]-Can you... help me walk from now on? I think I need a bit of help, and you are pretty much the only person that walks me towards the General. This is simply my last wish I want you to fulfil.

He doesn't say anything, but he does help Him in the end. It's not like he disobeys to the orders of the General by doing this. And yet he still doesn't understand this man, nor this situation. But the man doesn't care. He only gives him one last smile since he helps Him out, before He says His last words to him as well.

[M4TTH3W]-...Thank you, Son.

And after some time, they finally arrive at a platform that stands in front of the statue of General 4RTHUR, the previous General who was assassinated by Great Leader M1NERV4 before She died. This is no usual execution, but a public one. None of this happened before for sure. And yet, the Great Leader still doesn't care, He only looks at the horizon, confident, as He simply gets weaker than before.

The General was waiting for them to arrive in the meantime, standing with a Sergeant who has the order to kill Him. He still doesn't seem so happy about this whole situation, but he continues it as there is no way back. And so, when they finally arrive on the platform, he starts saying his last words to the Great Leader publicly, before starting the execution He "deserves".

On the other side though, the Leader of the base searched in vain for the Great Leader in the execution room that he thought of. His soldiers told him many times there is nobody present even if he still had doubts. But he knows he failed in protecting Him, yet he doesn't give up just yet, not until he at least finds Him, dead or alive. Then, one of the Guardians announces him that he noticed some kind of event in the center of the city, but they are way too far from it to see what's going on. And so, he orders for everyone to retreat immediately and hurry in hope that they will get there in time.

But there is no hope. They arrive at the last moments when they finally realise that the Great Leader is executed publicly. The Ynash'saveghtah Gas was already spreading around Him and it was no time for any of his men to come and rescue Him. No matter what they could have done, it was simply too late. The Sergeant was already pointing the gun to His head, ready to shoot at any second.

But before he pulled the trigger, the Leader notices something off about the Great Leader that was being held by a soldier. He wasn't moving, He wasn't talking, He wasn't doing anything. Even the General noticed that, and they both were in shock when they saw Him in that situation. But the trigger was finally pulled, as a bullet started traveling through the Great Leader's head, knocking Him on the floor, as a red cold river started flowing around the whole platform.

"...My master told me once that He was already dead by the time the trigger was pulled, but he also told me to keep it a secret, even from my own brother. Was this the reason why He didn't care that He will die? Because He already knew that He is going to die that day anyway? And if so... why did He want to end His life this way, far from the ones He cared about? ...Far from us?"

The Southeast Military Base

42:27

"Later on, I've learnt that at the meeting with the Council, He even ordered Mrs. M4EK0 to not do any kind of investigation in the City of Above that day specifically. He was already plotting this from the beginning. He knew this is going to happen. He knew all of this! ...But then... Why did He do it...?

I never understood His action, and yet, something else was bothering me more. Why did He die so early? If it wasn't for the execution, He would've died that day anyway... Why? Was he suffering from a sickness that He never told me about? And if so, why did nobody know about it? Not even the Healers? Not even my master...? He wasn't even that old as far as I knew. He was about 65 or 70. A normal person dies by the ages between 200 to 230, so why did He die so early? And why didn't He tell us about this...?

Though I ask these questions now, I didn't know back then about the situation yet. My master only got back not long time ago before he called me in his office again. Of course, he put someone else to bring me to him, but to my surprise then, even though RY4N couldn't come with me because he had something to do quickly, the one which he sent was looking at us wondering at something that I couldn't understand, with such a sad face watching us.

But until I could get an answer, I just went to see what he wanted again. I was a bit pissed off thinking that he might do the same shit he did in the morning. But again, the man is full of surprises. As I entered the room, it wasn't the same strange and playful greeting that he threw at me earlier, it wasn't even a greeting. Seeing him serious like this even scared me. He wasn't even looking at me that moment, the chair was on the opposite direction and I couldn't even see his expression, but I could sense the weird vibe he gave, vibe that I've never experienced before. None of us said a word though. I didn't dare to say a word. But then he simply said three words..."

[AL7AN]-...Come with me.

"...before getting up and starting to leave the room, waiting for me to follow him. And so I did. It was the first time I ever saw him this serious. I didn't even know it was possible till that day. He wasn't playing with my brain anymore, he wasn't teasing me as he usually did, he was simply taking me to an unknown destination. But that destination... was a room full of people that worked here, all staring at us, and I simply didn't know what was happening. Everyone seemed so down, like the end of the world was about to hit us in the face.

But then he finally looked down at me, taking from the back of his body something that I couldn't see. He then put himself on a knee, everybody following him, and finally showed the coat that my father was wearing all the time around the base. A white and long coat, painted on the back with symbols of all the bases and clans that are watching over the city, the symbol of the title "Great Leader".

And that moment, RY4N was just arriving from what he had to do, only for him to find me almost fainting from the fear that I was battling. My heart was beating as it never did before, as my master was putting on my shoulders the white and long coat, and I was barely breathing too. RY4N was even shouting at me as he started running towards me, but when he arrived, he finally realised what was happening too. When he came, he only noticed me on the edge of fainting, but the moment he saw the coat of our father, it was clear to him too... Not only that our father was no longer with us, but I've become the new Great Leader of the Underground City.

Yet for me, it was truly the end of the world. RY4N could control easily his emotions any time, but I always had problems doing so. And I do admit that. I didn't want to accept the coat. I didn't want to accept that my father died. I always thought that RY4N will be the next Great Leader as well. Not that day, of course... I simply wasn't ready for this title, but he wasn't either, truth to be told. More than that, it was true that I was the only one who had trained for this type of roles more than him. He barely trained, or more like he never did. But why...?

And, of course... I cried. I was only a child. What could I do? Nobody can say they didn't cry when someone they once loved left them forever. I regretted that I didn't listen to Him that much in the past, that I was the problematic child He probably never wished for me to be. But... probably He planned this as well. Who knows? In the end, the only words that I could hear at that moment were coming from the people that were bowing to their new ruler."

[ALL]-...Long live the Great Leader of the Underground City. Long live The Renaissance... Long live the revolution!

The Underground City

47:31

"And so, when I managed to calm myself down for a bit, I went alone to the house I once called "home" to visit it for one last time. Even though it was full of our things in it, the house felt empty when I've entered through its door. Photos everywhere of faces that I couldn't recognise anymore, not even mine.

I started packing everything I thought that I can't leave behind that moment, like books that He used to read us when we were little as RY4N loved them back then, or simple items around the house. But from everything that was there, it only caught my attention an old photo from a small table near the door which seemed to be broken. It was a photo of us: me, RY4N and... our father. It was that photo which I've destroyed four years before, when I simply got mad and ran away from home, going and putting myself and my own brother in danger in the City of Above. It was my fault... It was my fault. It was my fault! It was my--"

--It was all your fault!

...

"...He spoke to me for the first time that day. If I was getting stronger physically, my mental state was only falling apart day by day. He knew that. That's why he had changed his plans.

Instead of controlling my movements, he would rather kill me mentally first than waste his time on the body now. He knew my weaknesses, and he still does. The moment I will completely lose it, he will be the one to take control over my body. I know that's what he desires. Demon of Darkness, I never knew about your existence until that day. You made me realise what it had to come. You made me realise what this war is about. You made me realise what I've become... You've created this merciless fate!"

...

"...Or maybe... it is... fate alone in the end. Maybe it wasn't your fault, Demon. Maybe it was truly my fault. Maybe you were only trying to open my eyes. But it... doesn't help that you want to take control over me ever since I was born, even without knowing it. It doesn't help that you take advantage about the fact that I'm not emotionally stable at all. Maybe this is why I blame you sometimes, but all you do is to live in my mind, only affecting me, nobody else... Maybe I'm the demon in the end.

And yet... I was only a child. I still am a simple child deep down inside. And look what you made me. Look at the monster that everyone fears. You enjoy it, don't you? Because that's what you wanted from the very beginning. The demon that you dreamt of this body to be... looks like it takes roots from me, not from you. What even are you though? I always hid you from everyone around me, and yet I still don't know what you are myself. Are you a curse? A spirit that haunts me? A personality of mine that is buried deep and waits to raise to the sky, dreaming of destroying every life form in this world? What... are you?

You left me that night in tears and fear. I couldn't even sleep no matter how hard I've tried to think about something else. I even woke up before everyone else only to be lost in my thoughts alone. I've trained by myself, tried designing more things, but no matter what I did, I only thought of that day when my father died far from us. After all, it was my fault... right?

I went in His old office the moment I felt like simply taking a break, but I didn't do anything besides staying and staring at that old desk of His. In the end... that's all I could do. Maybe because I knew it was now my office, my burden that I had to carry."

08.02.1633

The Southeast Military Base

16:03

Now, RY4N wakes up alone, though he swears he and his brother were sleeping together last night in the same room in the base, since they have a room with two beds in which they were meant to sleep when they entered the base. It was... strange to see CHE5TER's bed empty this early, as he was used to wake Him up since He liked to sleep so much. So, he begins to call for His name, but no response. Then, he dresses up quickly and starts looking around the base to find Him.

"Maybe he left again? But he was in such a bad mood yesterday. He wouldn't leave like this, would he?"

He even asks around the people that pass by if they saw Him. Yet nobody saw Him in this morning. It was a bit... strange. After all, usually, when He leaves, He announces His leaving to him, but now it seems like He just disappeared. He looks a bit more around the rooms, until he finally arrives at the Great Leader's office, where he simply found Him standing under the Great Leader's desk, alone.

[RY4N]-CHE5TER? What are you doing there? Why did you wake up so early?

But He doesn't respond. And so, RY4N just comes closer and looks under that desk to see Him. He was... sad. He was feeling so down this morning, but RY4N expected this behaviour already.

[RY4N]-CHE5TER... Hey! I'm here! Don't be sad!

But He still doesn't respond. He is looking at the floor, lost in His own mind. RY4N then sits down next to Him to calm Him down, putting his right hand on His shoulders while looking at Him peacefully.

[RY4N]-...You know it's not the end of the world, Ches... You are not the only one who suffers from this loss. But we still got each other, right?

...But you did kill Him, didn't you, Ches?

But the more he was looking at his brother, the more he saw in what bad condition He was now. His eyes were black from tiredness and tears, He was pale like the snow and His energy wasn't looking that full either. He was a bit... concerned this time seeing Him like this. He was even crying a little.

[CHE5TER]-RY4N... I-I don't want to be the Great Leader... I don't want to know that our father died...

[RY4N]-But we are going through this together! You know that I'm not gonna leave you, right? We can do it if we are united!

[CHE5TER]-...It's not the same, RY4N... It's not the same as being the Leader of this base!

[RY4N]-Hey! Everything is going to be okay! Did I ever lie to you?

CHE5TER doesn't respond to that question though. He only looks at the floor, thinking of that previous day, before starting to talk again.

[CHE5TER]-...All this time I've thought that I will help Him when I was going to take the title in this base, to work side by side with Him and discover more about this world with His help. Why did it had to end like this...? I thought that it's going to be as how everyone said. You were going to take this title after His 25 years of work with it and I was going to help you with my people here. I thought that He will live long enough and see us progressing in this life... and be proud of us. Why did it end like this? Why did He die...?

RY4N doesn't respond either. It's maybe the first time he sees his own brother this vulnerable. He knew from when they were even younger that CHE5TER had problems with His emotions, but now it seems like His emotions are taking full control over His own mind.

[CHE5TER]-...I didn't agree to any of this, RY4N! I don't want this to happen! I want Him to come back! I don't want to be the ruler! I-I don't want...

He was crying heavily, but yet silently now, hiding His face by putting it on His arms, with His feet close to His chest, squeezing them from sadness.

[RY4N]-But I won't leave you alone in this situation, CHE5TER! I miss Him too, but that doesn't mean we have to give up! You want Him to be proud? Let's make Him proud! We will do anything in our power to honour His legacy!

But He wasn't responding, nor He seemed as He wanted to leave this suffering. Yet then...

[CHE5TER]-RY4N...

...He said such a sentence that put RY4N into worry.

[CHE5TER]-...Was it really... my fault?

Now he understood why He was acting like this. It wasn't the loss. It wasn't the title. It wasn't anything from what happened yesterday... It was simply because He was blaming Himself for this incident. He was a problematic child from the very beginning of His life, causing troubles wherever He went. Maybe that's why He thinks He is the reason of His father's death: because He thought that His father didn't want to be with them because of Him. It's a blame game. A self torture. And now, from the lively child He once was, all that was left was a lost soul trying to find its way to inner peace, even if it means its own death.

[RY4N]-...What makes you think it was your fault?

[CHE5TER]-...

But He doesn't respond. From now, maybe it's the start of Him staying silent and hide His thoughts from His own brother. Telling him everything might not be a good idea anymore, at least that's what He thought.

[CHE5TER]-...There is no glory in the end, RY4N. I lost.

[RY4N]-You didn't lose until I don't recognise you, CHE5TER. We have to move on, alright? Trust my word and everything will be fine.

At least now, CHE5TER is looking at His brother while hearing his words. But is it really true what he said? In the end, He can't do anything about it.

[CHE5TER]-...Then I hope you are right in what you are saying.

[RY4N]-I'm always right!

16:53

He convinced CHE5TER somehow to finally leave that place, but He didn't seem to get any better anyway. They walk alone on the hallway of the base, Him still being lost in His thoughts completely.

It was all your fault! It was all your fault!

...

"...You never left me alone, Demon, did you? Not even RY4N stood that much as you stood with me. You've destroyed little me and achieved the killer you wished for me to be. You sure are proud of yourself, maybe even proud of me, aren't you? If blood is what you want, I will give you the entire dark and red void. Feast on me, feast on my weaknesses. Maybe you are the one who makes me stronger in the end. But once I end this war for once and for all, don't expect me to let you live again."

[RY4N]-Do you want to train, Ches?

[CHE5TER]-I-I... don't feel... like it...

[RY4N]-Then maybe do you want to play something like we used to? Or maybe you want to take a drink to relax and regain your energy?

[CHE5TER]-...No, I don't... want anything...

[RY4N]-Don't be so cold, CHE5TER. You have to do something productive. It will make you feel better!

[CHE5TER]-I just... want to sleep, RY4N. I don't feel like... doing anything today...

[RY4N]-Not even explore the city for a bit? I know you love that! We can try to visit the Statue of M1NERV4 first and then maybe go towards the north!

But CHE5TER stops responding. He just doesn't want to do anything. He is simply not in the mood. RY4N looks at Him, trying to find a solution, but all in vain. The loss affects him as well after all, even if he doesn't show it. But as the Original, he has to take care of his Error, doesn't he?

In the meantime though, Master AL7AN seems as he approaches them too now, having something to announce to the new ruler immediately. But even he is a bit concerned seeing CHE5TER this way.

[AL7AN]-*sigh* CHE5TER! I need to inform you something!

But CHE5TER doesn't look at him back. He just simply doesn't want to do anything at all, not even listen to anybody.

[AL7AN]-Look at me, young ruler! The Great Leader raised a warrior, not a coward!

[CHE5TER]-...The warrior died in the battle, Master. There is nothing left but ashes.

[AL7AN]-If you continue acting like this, these words might as well become the truth beneath your eyes! I had a reason why I chose you, CHE5TER! Do not make me regret this decision!

[CHE5TER]-...Oh, yeah? And what might be that reason?

[AL7AN]-I will tell you when you finally decide to get out from this agony that you put yourself in. Now act like a real man and look me in the eyes!

He doesn't seem mad, He doesn't seem pissed at all. Usually, this kind of conversation will piss Him off so badly, and yet now it seems like He doesn't have the power to even be mad at His master. Even he notices that, so he gets a bit softer this time.

[AL7AN]-...I've announced an emergency meeting at the Council this morning, in about one or two hours, and I need you present there. We will inform everyone about the new ruler situation of this city so that they can be aware of the changes.

[CHE5TER]-I don't want to come. RY4N will go for me.

[AL7AN]-You cannot avoid meetings now, CHE5TER. You are the Great Leader, and the Great Leader has the responsibility to take care of everything regarding His city, even if it means a small meeting. The Council has to know, as you have to be present there as well. I'm not doing the rules after all.

[CHE5TER]-...And I said that I don't want to come at the meeting. Everyone already thinks that RY4N will be the next Great Leader, why not take him?

[AL7AN]-Because RY4N isn't the Great Leader!

[CHE5TER]-...And what if he was?

[AL7AN]-I know you aren't happy about my decision, CHE5TER, but I told you that I have a reason for you to be the new ruler! Just listen to my word!

[CHE5TER]-...And I don't think you understood. What if he was?

Both of them are a bit confused. RY4N never really minded the idea of being the next ruler, but again, none of them expected to be this early. Heck, they didn't even hit the adult age just yet.

[AL7AN]-I can take you both to the meeting if that's what you want, but I cannot go without the ruler. You have to understand that.

[CHE5TER]-But you won't. Because I will go as him.

And now, they were even more confused.

[AL7AN]-What do you have in mind?

[CHE5TER]-...RY4N will be the Great Leader, even if you like it or not. I am the ruler now, so that would mean that I'm doing the rules here. I will come to the meeting, but not as myself, but as RY4N, and you will announce them that he is the new ruler of this city. Then, I will title him as the new Great Leader when you retire. Until then, we will work together on this title.

It was a plan, a strategy of a new move. It wasn't the best, but it was something that He wished to do. Something thought unconsciously, something childish and selfish.

[AL7AN]-...Very well then. I have nothing to do but obey to your words. I will bring some people and help you with your disguise, but do not think that I agree with this plan of yours, Mr. Great Leader.

17:36

And so they did. Master AL7AN had brought some of the people from the base to help disguising CHE5TER into His own brother. You cannot tell the difference between them that easily when they are done. Now they really look like twins, what it was suppose to be from the code in the first place in our world. His C colour is completely covered, hidden from everyone else. Only His face has some parts that differ from RY4N, though the people really tried to make them just as his.

Even RY4N is a bit surprised seeing a copy of himself in front of his own eyes. But this copy doesn't really have his personality at all. He still doesn't seem as He recovered.

[Soldier1]-Here you go! The clone that you commanded!

[AL7AN]-They sure look alike now, don't they?

[RY4N]-It looks so real... Are you sure it isn't a mirror?

[Soldier2]-Mhm! Well, it's not the best interpretation, but at least it achieved its goal.

[RY4N]-So now you are going to the meeting like this, "RY4N LENKOV"?

["RY4N"]-...It is what I wished, wasn't it? Are you ready to be the next ruler, Brother?

[RY4N]-Well... To be honest, I'm a bit nervous, hehe... I don't really know how I'm going to do this, but if that's how I can help you, I will try my best to be the Great Leader. You promise that everything will go back to normal after this?

["RY4N"]-Y--

--Guilty!

But He stops before He could answer. He looks a bit at RY4N, as if He saw something that nobody saw. But He finishes His answer after.

["RY4N"]-...Yes. I promise.

RY4N then gives Him a short smile, but CHE5TER only continues to look a bit in fear at him, watching that thing He just saw.

The Council of the Underground City

18:58

And so, all the Clan Leaders and the Leaders of the other bases had already arrived at the meeting, now waiting for the Great Leader and the Leader of the Southeast Base to arrive as well. An emergency meeting is probably the only thing that keeps everyone at peace in this room, but old bad habits cannot just disappear into thin air, so of course the people argue until they arrive.

To their surprise though, when the door opens for them to enter, there is no Great Leader, the tall man with white hair and blue eyes that used to rule over these lands, but rather taking His place one of His sons, little RY4N, or at least what they thought it's little RY4N.

[EM3RY]-So you've decided to arrive, Mr. AL7AN? May I ask where the Great Leader is? We cannot start the meeting without Him after all.

[M4EK0]-And what's little RY4N doing here? Isn't this suppose to be an emergency meeting? I thought that the Great Leader can take His sons only in the normal meetings to simply teach them, not to witness this kind of emergencies too.

["RY4N"]-...

[AL7AN]-That's why I've commanded an emergency meeting. I'm afraid that the Great Leader won't be present with us at this one.

Everyone is a bit confused hearing the response of the Leader, yet Clan Leader XANTH3 begins to speak.

[XANTH3]-But the meetings need Him present, Mr. AL7AN. Especially these ones! We have a lot of problems to discuss already, we cannot just let Him pass whenever He pleases. With all due respect, you had the authority to tell Him to come.

[R4YMOND]-And with all due respect, Mr. XANTH3, for you, everything is a problem. I am a bit afraid to see how your son will turn out to be when he will take your title.

[XANTH3]-I'm afraid that my son doesn't want that much to take the title, Mr. R4YMOND. So that worry of yours is nothing. I cannot obligate the child if he doesn't want that. And I have to correct that affirmation of yours. Not everything is a problem to me, but I'm afraid that you are too blind to see that the city has a lot of holes that we need to repair.

[R4YMOND]-But rushing it won't help. Focus on your economy and let us repair what's important. Money is what you do best, other than that, do not involve yourself into the conversation.

[XANTH3]-You little--

[M1SH4M]- --Now, now... I understand that the Great Leader is not present and we cannot maintain peace in this room, but no need of fighting at this moment. Young Master RY4N is still present, remember? I do not think any of us want him to assist these fights of ours. We are not such a good example for him if we do so.

[M4EK0]-It's not like we were good examples to these young minds from the start anyway, Mr. M1SH4M. If you want to act like a father, at least do it in your free time and with these souls that your people rescue. I do not think we have time for your words in these meetings.

[M1SH4M]-But that shouldn't mean we have to act like monsters in front of them too.

...Guilty!

CHE5TER still didn't recover, and it doesn't help that people argue in front of Him either. He didn't mind the fights when He was coming here before, but now it surely isn't the best time.

[AL7AN]-Enough! Everyone! This is a meeting, not a battle ground! How many times do I have to tell you that!?

[EM3RY]-And who are you to command here? The only one who has the approval to give orders is the Great Leader, remember? You do not have any authority to tell us what you want.

[AL7AN]-If you want to act like a child for the rest of your life, Mr. EM3RY, then you are my guest. But not in this room! Act like this with your people from the Central Base, as they don't seem like they act any more mature than you.

[M1SH4M]-Can we just get to the point of the meeting? Let's stop this nonsense for now. Why did you call us, Mr. AL7AN?

[AL7AN]-*sigh* I wanted to discuss with you all about the Great Leader's absence at this meeting before the whole argument started. So, if there are no any other interruptions, I hope that you can give me the permission to speak now. It won't take long. I will be short.

And so, everyone finally shuts their mouth and listens to the Leader. And yet CHE5TER doesn't feel well at all.

[AL7AN]-As you noticed when me and my Officer entered, and as you pointed it out earlier, the Great Leader isn't present and it won't be for the next days either. RY4N will take His place for the moment, and I am here to explain a bit why.

Guilty!

[AL7AN]-Little RY4N here will assist from now on our meetings and help us with all the possible solutions to them, even if that means he will need to learn. After all, we all know that he was suppose to take His title when he gets older.

Guilty!

[AL7AN]-But I'm afraid that it isn't because he has to learn about this position that he will carry in the future this time.

Guilty!

[AL7AN]-The true reason why RY4N is here is because--

GUILTY!

["RY4N"]- --IS BECAUSE CHE5TER DIED IN THE CITY OF ABOVE!

Everyone then looks shocked at the son of the Great Leader as He shouted these words. Not even Master AL7AN can believe what he just heard.

["RY4N"]-...CHE5TER died in the City of Above! He was executed by the M soldiers yesterday night! He isn't with us anymore!!

...CHE5TER lied. He lied to everyone. But all He can do now is to start crying silently again.

["RY4N"]-...This is why my father isn't present! He is taking a rest to clear up His mind from this loss! I'm only here to assist Him! I'm only here to help...

The Leader now looks at Him, still shocked, but it's like he is realising the plan he thinks the young mind had.

"...You have a plan in mind, don't you little one? You've plotted this from the beginning? Heh... You tricked me good. Seems like I have to learn a lot from you as well."

[AL7AN]-...Yes. This is the unfortunate news that I needed you to know. The Great Leader will not be present at any activity for the next days until He decides that He is ready to come back. It's a loss that affected us all, especially the lost boy's family. I hope that you can understand His decision for now and let Him rest in peace.

CHE5TER is crying now heavily, but silently as said, knowing the truth. He knew what He has done. He accepted this burden to be His for the rest of His life. He accepted this title to be His. He is now the Great Leader, the ruler of the Underground City.

[AL7AN]-...And I think this is the end of this meeting. Every problem encountered will have to wait for now. Let's all take a small rest and tomorrow we will start discussing about them in detail. Have a nice day, everyone.

They all then get up from the chairs they were sitting on and do a bow as a dismiss. But they don't leave just yet, rather they go to the sad son that was standing next to the Leader earlier, while the Leader was already at the door ready to leave and stopped to wait for CHE5TER to come.

The child didn't notice when these people got so close though. He was keeping His eyes closed because of His crying. But He didn't get scared when people started talking...

[M1SH4M]-Hey... RY4N... It's okay. He will always be with you, remember?

...LIAR!

[R4YMOND]-Be strong, little boy. CHE5TER would have wanted that, don't you think?

LIAR!

[M1SH4M]-Why didn't you tell me he got in trouble..? I could have saved him... Don't cry...

LIAR! LIAR! LIAR! YOU ARE A LIAR!

...He was rather terrified as people were continuing talking to Him. It was like He wasn't seeing the faces that tried to help Him at all. From all these people, only one guy from them all was also a bit terrified, but from the news in his case. It was a fear of future, a fear about his son now. Mr. XANTH3.

CHE5TER though was breathing heavily now from His fear. The Leader noticed that and rushed to take Him away from the group around Him and start going back to the base. All the people look at them leave, feeling down about this situation about that family. It was unfortunate even if you knew the truth. But XANTH3 was the only one who was looking at the boy, scared too.

"...He died doing what he enjoyed? Then how can you not end up like him, LUCAS?"

The Southeast Military Base

19:45

They got back in the end, while RY4N was waiting for CHE5TER. He wasn't that happy yet again, but He was trying to take off all the makeup He was wearing, as well as the wig and the contact lenses.

[RY4N]-So? How was it? When do I start everything?

CHE5TER looks a bit at His brother first. Seems like He isn't guilty anymore, but sure doesn't like this subject anymore.

[CHE5TER]-...You won't do anything. Don't worry about that anymore.

[RY4N]-Huh? What do you mean?

[CHE5TER]-I mean that you won't take the title anymore.

[RY4N]-But I thought that--

[CHE5TER]- --I've accepted the title, RY4N. I am the ruler now. This has nothing to do with you anymore.

It was... strange. Especially for RY4N. He didn't seem as He ever liked this title in His whole life, but now He accepts it out of nowhere?

[RY4N]-...So, you are ready to be the Great Leader?

But CHE5TER doesn't respond to that. He takes deep breath before He can answer.

[CHE5TER]-No. But it is an obligation.

"...I never wanted to tell him this truth of why I actually accepted. I didn't like the title, never in my entire life would I have accepted it. But if it wasn't for that vision, maybe I wouldn't have been the Great Leader today at all. The moment I saw him suffer such a terrible burden that I moved to him... I was guilty of that agony of his if I'd continued with my initial plan. I was guilty for making my own brother suffer an endless pain for the rest of his life... He didn't deserve it. I was the reason of our father's death, not him. I was the one who had to be punished. And my initial plan was the proof of this affirmation. Fate had to punish me for the mistakes that I have made in the past and I had to endure it. Maybe this is what people call "maturing"."

[AL7AN]-CHE5TER, before I leave you and RY4N alone, can I change a word with you? Only the two of us?

He accepts with a simple nod, leaving RY4N alone just for a few minutes and going in the Great Leader's office. They go towards the so-called "window", a transparent wall with the view of the entire city, hidden from the public eye. They then stay in front of it and watch silently for a bit, until the Leader decides to speak.

[AL7AN]-Why did you change your plan, little one?

[CHE5TER]-I... guess you are not the only man with plans.

[AL7AN]-Oh? And what is your plan?

[CHE5TER]-It's... my business.

[AL7AN]-Heh... Very well then. Seems like you did learn a lot throughout these years.

[CHE5TER]-I've learnt from the best after all, right?

[AL7AN]-Mhmhmhm...

CHE5TER looks a bit down before He speaks again.

[CHE5TER]-Why did you... choose me?

[AL7AN]-I had many reasons in my mind, little one. Why do you wish to know?

[CHE5TER]-I thought that... maybe there is something that would make me know I didn't make the wrong decision in your words.

[AL7AN]-Mm... You do not have a wrong mentality in these words of yours.

[CHE5TER]-...Then what was the reason?

[AL7AN]-Well... One: You were my disciple, so of course I would have chosen you. I know you more than I know your brother, do I?

[CHE5TER]-Heheh...

[AL7AN]-And two... Because you already have the leadership in you, CHE5TER. Even if you don't see it. This was your part of legacy that your father left for you.

[CHE5TER]-...How so?

[AL7AN]-You were always open-minded and ready to face any unexpected problem at any time. Not to mention that the plans you had in your mind that I cannot understand. A good example was today, wasn't it? Though I cannot say it was such a good example with the facing problems thing too, can I?

[CHE5TER]-Heh... yeah...

[AL7AN]-But you do not rely on anybody's empty words. You think by yourself and want to find the truth on your own. This is the advantage that you have in you and it is what will help you rule this city in the future. Don't you think that's what makes you a good ruler? It's true that RY4N has his advantages as well. After all, he is the one who acts the same as your father, being his part of His legacy, but that's not enough to make you a Great Leader. You cannot rely on simply what you know. You always have to be ready to face the unexpected.

CHE5TER looks a bit at His master again, but His master was only looking at the city. Maybe He only tried to believe what he was saying.

[AL7AN]-To be honest now, probably your father would have chosen RY4N as well. If He knew what decision I made, I would have been in trouble, wouldn't I?

[CHE5TER]-Heh...

[AL7AN]-But I've chosen you because I trust you, CHE5TER. And you have to trust my decision as well. I will help you with your title and your secret plan until I retire and leave this city, but you have to prove me that I didn't make the wrong decision. Prove me that you can be the greatest ruler this city ever had. Prove me what you are made of!

[CHE5TER]-...And what if I can't prove it?

[AL7AN]-Then I guess your father would be disappointed in both of us and will beat our butts in the heavens. So save us from this nightmare, little ruler.

"Maybe it was truly my death that day. Maybe it was the death of young me and the birth of the new ruler of this small city. It was a dream, but a nightmare as well. It was a beauty, but a horrible future that I had to face. Maybe you knew this was going to happen, Demon. Maybe you predicted all of this from the very beginning. I do not understand something about you though. Do you try to help me? Or to get rid of me? Because you are a complicated little voice."

[AL7AN]-So, CHE5TER... will you prove them all who you truly are?

[CHE5TER]-...I will. I will prove them all.

[AL7AN]-Very well then. Let us make some space to welcome our new ruler of these lands. For a future without war to destroy everything around it. Will you fight until the dawn, little one?

[CHE5TER]-It is my word.

[AL7AN]-Then you will be our next hero in this story and you will put an end to this misery. For the honour of the dead, bring us peace into these lands, Great Leader CHE5TER of the Underground City. Until Death will take us all...

"And so, the new ruler was born. If they gave birth to the Great Leader, I gave birth to someone else. Maybe a person that I didn't wish to be that much since I was young, but I needed to survive somehow. I need to survive so that others can survive with me. A city without a ruler is a complete chaos, so who am I to kill that ruler they wished to have? But I am no simple ruler like my father was. Maybe it is a reason why I didn't want to be the Great Leader. But... they need him."

[CHE5TER]-...Until Death will take us all.

"...They need Seven Two."

Warrior, warrior,

How does it feel to cry?

To be alone in a world full of pain?

To lose yourself rather than die?

Does it hurt seeing your present self?

Or maybe you don't want to reply.

In your memory,

Who was your biggest enemy?

Was it the man whom you were fighting?

Was it his wrong mentality?

Was it the world that was against you?

Or was it your lost serenity?

A sky, darker than his twisted mind,

You stay alone and watch it in the night;

What exactly do you want to find?

The stars don't speak to you, friend;

'Cause you lost, 

You lost in the end.