Monarch of Ruin

I was shocked by what happened when the king arrived.

The monsters and soldiers who were engaged in fierce battle with the humans suddenly stopped moving and they all bowed and went down on their knees.

As his entourage stopped on top of the hill, the kingly figure arose from his throne. The humans did not fail to seize this chance and they rained their blades on their enemies who chose to salute their leader in the middle of battle. He simply watched as his followers were slaughtered in front of him but throughout the frenzy, none of them moved even when they were stabbed until death claimed them in its embrace. Only the commander was not moving and his gaze remained locked on the king.

I couldn't tell if this was out of fear of this man or if they simply revered him. If it was fear, what exactly could he do that this legion would not dare to move even in the face of death? If it was reverence, how great was he that they would even lay down their lives just to pay respect to him?

The corners of his lips curled upward, and for a moment, I thought he would continue the battle by himself, but instead, he raised his hand and whispered something I couldn't hear. It seemed like his army, however, heard him because immediately after that, the human army was swarmed.

The king had brought equipment along with him. He was serious about tearing the gates before him down. While his army had the humans cornered, trebuchets were suddenly pushed out of nowhere and a few moments later, massive rocks were coursing through the air.

The first volley was brutal. The air filled with the sound of shattering bone and the sickening crunch of bodies crushed beneath stone. Screams of agony echoed across the battlefield as the trebuchets continued their relentless assault. Splinters of wood and shards of metal sprayed outward as the gate groaned under the impact.

The humans, already backed into a corner, scrambled for cover, but there was nowhere to run because the gates had already been closed behind them as soon as the reinforcements arrived. Blood pooled in the dirt, mixing with the dust kicked up by the siege. Each impact sent shockwaves through the walls, shaking them to their core.

The soldiers fighting down below may have taken the brunt of the attack, but the ones on the walls were not exempted from the assault either.

As if all that was not enough, I heard uneven thunderous booms and with each one, the earth shook violently. From the west where they had just come, there were creatures that could only be described as giants fast approaching. This king wasn't here to play games.

I started to wonder what could be so precious inside those walls that would warrant even a king to appear on a battlefield and bring this number of forces with him.

Their massive forms towered over the battlefield, each step sending tremors through the ground. Dust and debris were kicked up in their wake. Their thick, gnarled skin resembled cracked stone, and their eyes burned with an unnatural glow.

I could hear the panicked shouts of the defending soldiers as they scrambled to reinforce the gate, but it was clear that nothing would hold against such titanic force. The trebuchets had weakened the barrier—these giants would finish the job.

One of them let out a deep, rumbling growl, raising a massive fist. For a moment, the battlefield seemed to hold its breath. Then, with a single devastating blow, the wooden gate splintered, the impact sending shards flying in all directions.

It had been breached.

"Retreat! Retreat!! Retreat!!!" I heard the commander shout and following his command, the soldiers began to fall back.

'Fools,' I thought 'Where are you retreating to? You are finished.'

I had been so focused on observing 'like a god' that I had forgotten I was still a spectator and an unwelcomed one. I had forgotten that I was still in the Arch World. Suddenly, I felt two hands wrap themselves around me from behind. Wait, I felt?

For a brief, disorienting moment, the battlefield faded away. The grip wasn't violent or crushing—it was firm, almost… gentle. Like a wife embracing her husband after a long journey. My breath caught in my throat as warmth pressed against my back, contrasting sharply with the chaos unfolding before me.

But this wasn't a reunion. This wasn't love.

Her lips suddenly came close to my left ear and a quiet breath ghosted against my ear, and with her lullaby-like graceful voice, she whispered:

"Successor, your trial shall now begin."

'What?! Successor?! She said Successor, right? Why would she call-'

My line of thought was cut short as I suddenly fell out of the sky. I still didn't have a body, but I could feel. I could feel the air slapping against me as I plummeted. I could feel my fear growing in my chest. I did not know how long I was falling for but at a point, I felt like I was tumbling down into space for so long. As I neared the ground, I prepared myself for my death which seemed inevitable, though I wasn't sure if I would die in the form I was currently in. I closed my eyes in fear.

Contrary to what I had expected, as I neared the ground, I noticed that I had slowed down, and when I opened my eyes and looked around, I found that I was in a... cathedral.

***

We were in the hall of the cathedral. Yes, we.

I had no idea who they were, but it was safe to say I met them there.

A man stood in the middle of the hall, calm and unmoving. On either side of him, six figures dressed in blue robes and hoods stood in silence, their presence giving the scene a solemn, almost ceremonial air. Their attire reminded me of something religious, like the robes of priests or monks.

Ahead of the lone man, three others in the same dressing but with more embroidery and design stood with fury in their eyes. Their hands twitched, their expressions twisted in anger, but despite their clear rage, the man before them remained completely unfazed. He neither spoke nor reacted, as if their emotions meant nothing to him.

"What did you just say?!" The man on the right snaped.

"I believe I didn't stutter"

"How can you say something like that at a time like this?!" The man in the middle yelled. "It seems you don't know the consequences of your actions, I dare you to repeat what you just said." He added with a half-challenging look on his face.

"As you wish. I had decided on this a long time ago but I will make it public today. From today onwards..." He paused, building up the tension in the room. I also felt it because I was curious to know what he said that made these men all giddy

"...I oppose the gods."