TBB: 5

The battlefield was in ruins. Only 200 soldiers remained, barely clinging to life. Victory was impossible—there was a 0% chance of survival. Death seemed inevitable... unless something unexpected happened. Zaburai stood at a distance, watching the battlefield unfold.

Ryder lay motionless, completely taken down.

Destroyer: "Skeleton, clean up this mess. Bury the dead. This battle is over."

Skeleton: "Yes, my Lord!"

Skeleton marched forward, ready to carry out the order, but—

Ryder: "Always… Always..."

Skeleton froze, stunned to see Ryder still alive. Ryder clenched his fists.

"Always… I have been a failure. I don't even trust myself anymore. I wanted to die—because, honestly, what's the point of living?"

His voice trembled, but his eyes burned with something deeper. "But… she believed in me. The one who taught me how to fight—even if just a little—he believed in me too. SO WHY THE HELL AM I STILL AFRAID?!"

Destroyer narrowed his eyes. Ryder, half-conscious, his face covered in blood, struggled to stand on one knee. Zaburai, watching from afar, smirked. Destroyer raised his hand, signaling Skeleton to stop. Not out of kindness— but because he was curious.

Without warning, Destroyer charged forward and slashed Ryder's abdomen with his BLACKCROWN sword.

DESTROYER: "Look at you. Pathetic."

He scoffed. "Do you still not understand? This battle is over, Ryder. You're alive only because I'm too bored to kill anyone today. Frankly… I HATE WEAKLINGS LIKE YOU."

Ryder's eyes widened. Those words… They were the same words he had heard in the past—from that man.

Destroyer: "But if you insist on dying… I'll grant your wish."

Destroyer lunged at Ryder for the final blow. But—Ryder didn't flinch. He didn't even blink. Destroyer hesitated for a split second. "Are you not afraid of dying?"

Ryder: "Why should I be?" His voice was firm, unwavering.

"Life is a game. You never really lose—until you stop fighting. Until then, you still have a chance. So why should I fear death? EVEN IF IT STARES ME IN THE EYES, I WILL STAND TALL AND FIGHT TO MY LAST BREATH!!"

Destroyer burst into laughter. "HAHAHAHA!! What the hell was that?"

He crossed his arms. "You know, Ryder… sometimes it's hard to accept reality. It hurts when life doesn't go your way. That's why most people break. They get depressed, they give up."

His gaze darkened.

"But do you know what hurts the most? It's not losing. It's realizing you were never someone's first choice. That the people you cared for the most only saw you as a replacement—to fill their emptiness, to ease their sorrow. Look at your King. He thought he could change fate. And yet… he died like a fool."

Somewhere Else on the Battlefield…

Shinda-Me stood silently. His mind drifted to the past.

"What's the difference between Hell and Earth?"

Ten years ago, he had seen a little girl, trembling in fear. She was emotionless, voiceless.

Even as he tried to bandage her wounds, she refused to meet his eyes—because she was terrified.

"Those seven demons… they did things no one should ever have to endure."

Shinda-Me clenched his fists. "Lord Shiva, tell me… what's the purpose of life when you allow such suffering to exist?" His voice cracked.

"I tried everything to help her. I wanted her to know that she wasn't alone. That I would stay. But I was nothing—I had no home, no money. Still, I gave her whatever little food I had… because I had no one else. I fed her as a friend. I cared for her. And in winning her heart… I lost mine." Tears welled in his eyes.

Back to the Battlefield…

Zaburai watched from a distance, his expression unreadable. His thoughts drifted to Ryder.

"Destroyer… you're impressive. But Ryder? He's something else entirely. Hmm… I think I'll keep watching. After all, he's part of the story I'm writing."

Meanwhile, Destroyer towered over Ryder.

Destroyer: "So… Ryder. Rest in peace, kid. It was fun watching you struggle."

But—

Ryder: "SHUT THE HELL UP!!" He gasped for breath, but his voice roared across the battlefield.

"I HAVEN'T GIVEN UP! THIS BATTLE ISN'T OVER! EVEN IF MY LEGS ARE BROKEN, EVEN IF MY SOUL IS SCREAMING IN PAIN—I WILL NOT LOSE! IT HURTS, DESTROYER! YOU'RE RIGHT! BUT I'LL MAKE THIS LIFE OBEY MY WILL!!"

Destroyer's eyes gleamed with amusement.

Destroyer: "I see. Well then… how about this?" He smirked.

"I'll spare your life. But you won't be free. No, no, no… I'll break you first. You'll serve as a slave in my kingdom. That should be fun."

He turned to Skeleton. "Take this trash with us. Let's tame him."

Ryder's body trembled. His mind screamed. No… I won't go with him. I'd rather— His thoughts shattered.

Ryder: "I'LL KILL MYSELF!!"

Before he could act, Destroyer slammed his fist into Ryder's head, knocking him unconscious.

Destroyer: "Tch. Shut up already."

He glanced at Ryder's lifeless body. "Did he faint? Or is he dead?"

He scoffed. "Not that it matters."

Destroyer turned away. "Skeleton, take him."

As the battlefield fell silent, a voice echoed in the heavens as Lord Shiva answers Shinda-Me.

LORD SHIVA HAD SPOKEN.

"We created humans to witness the beauty of our creation. Never did we see you as mere experiments, nor did we consider you separate from us. You are our children—born from our essence, carrying our spirit within you."

"Not once have I felt joy in witnessing suffering, nor sorrow when I saw happiness. Yet, Shinda-Me, you search for me in every corner of the world, blaming me for its pain. But you have forgotten a simple truth…"

"Every soul is a part of me."

"I reside within each and every one of you, and in turn, you are me. The moment you cease searching for darkness and open your eyes to the beauty that exists, you will understand the true reason behind humanity's creation."

"Yes, today's world may be consumed by turmoil, and I will not deny that the future lies shrouded in darkness. But even gods are bound by time. We, too, face challenges, we endure suffering, and we rise above it—not as omnipotent beings, but as examples for you to follow. If even the divine can overcome despair, then so can you."

"You need only awaken… and see the truth with your real eyes." And Lord Shiva, vanished.

Ryder had been defeated. Valaqus had fallen into the hands of Destroyer.

After a week of unconsciousness, Ryder finally opened his eyes. But as he looked around, he realized—he was no longer in his kingdom. This was Darkside Kingdom. But… he wasn't alone.

Destroyer: "Hey, weakling. You're finally awake, huh? Took you long enough. Honestly, that was pathetic—it took you more time to recover than I expected. You really are a loser, aren't you?"

He leaned back, watching Ryder struggle to sit up.

"Anyway, here's the deal—you're at the bottom of my army now. So, show me what you've got, Ryder."

Ryder clenched his fists. His body ached, his wounds still fresh.

Ryder: "I- I'm already injured, Destroyer! This isn't fair... How can you call yourself a king if you don't believe in fairness? A true king should protect his people, not rule with fear!"

Destroyer's smirk faded.

Destroyer: "Fair? A true king?" His voice turned cold.

"What the hell do you think I am? Some kind of joke? You speak of fairness, of a 'true king,' but do you even know the kind of world we live in?" Destroyer exhaled sharply.

"Listen well, brat. I had an older brother… and a younger one too. But after that day, our paths were never the same. I don't know where my older brother is now—only that he's the strongest being alive. Sometimes, I wonder what's stopping him from devouring this entire planet."

His fists tightened.

"Since that day, I have fought, clawed, and bled just to survive. I have spent my life preparing to take him down."

He paused, his voice dropping lower. "One day, I was supposed to die…"

"His army came for my village."

"And you talk to me about fairness? About true kings?"

Destroyer closed his eyes for a brief moment.

Five Years Ago…

"My village was under attack. There was nowhere to run."

"I held my little brother in my arms. He was asleep… so peaceful, so unaware of the horror around us."

"The wealthy and powerful fled in their golden carriages, abandoning everyone else to die."

"I had no choice."

"I begged them to take my brother—to at least save him. They agreed… but at a price."

"They stripped us of everything—our food, our money. But my brother… he was free. He was safe."

"That was all that mattered."

"And then, my world burned."

"They slaughtered my people. Infants, mothers, the elderly… no one was spared."

"I hid, trembling, my body frozen in terror. But inside, I was at peace—because my little brother had escaped this nightmare."

"At least… that's what I believed."

"I ran. I ran until my legs gave out. But they found me."

A Church in the Flames

"There was a church up ahead. Without thinking, I sprinted inside, hoping—praying—that somehow, I would be safe."

"They followed."

"Surrounded, cornered… I knew it was the end."

[1st MAN] "You little bastard. You're dead now."

[2nd MAN] "Let's play with him first. Maybe cut off his hands and legs, see how long he lasts?"

[3rd MAN] "Nah, let's just take his head and be done with it."

"I wanted to scream. I wanted to beg. But my voice… it wouldn't come out."

"Please… I don't want to die…"

Then—

(The sound of church bells ringing…)

And a voice echoed through the sacred halls—

{…} "In the name of the God you pray to... in the name of those who rest in Heaven... in the name of those suffering in this so-called paradise called Earth… I pray that your souls may finally find peace. Amen."

"And then, I saw him."

"A man—no, a devil."

"He slaughtered all 60 of them. Barehanded."

"Blood painted the church floor, yet he stood there, calm, unbothered. Around his neck hung a silver cross."

"That day, he showed me the power of Heaven."

The man turned to me.

{…} "You're pathetic. Wake up. Take their swords and finish off the rest. And next time? Don't disturb my sleep."

"I remember the smirk on his face as he stretched, yawning."

{…} "Oh well, those damn bells woke me up anyway. Name's Adam. See ya~"

"And that day… I was reborn."

The Birth of my Darkest Side.

"The last man standing had found a child—a weak, helpless boy."

[LAST MAN] "Oh? A little survivor? Haha… don't worry, I'll let you go. But first, let me take one of your eyes as a souvenir."

"He reached for the child."

"And then, from behind, I struck."

"I sliced his back open, and as he fell, screaming… I remembered his words about taking eyes."

"So I took his instead."

"I crushed them in my hand."

"That day, I was reborn as a Darkness."

[Young Boy] "Are you… are you a bad guy too?"

"Bad guy? Do I look like one?"

"Then I saw the knife in his hands. He was trembling, but he was ready to fight."

"Oh… I see. He wants to kill me because he thinks I'm the villain."

Destroyer let out a hollow laugh.

{Destroyer} "There's a saying… A hero will sacrifice you for the greater good."

"But look at me."

"Do I look like a hero?"

"I lost everything. My village, my people, my soul."

"And if I can't be a hero…"

"Then I will survive as a villain—"

"A Darkness who will slaughter everyone who stands in my way."

"That day, I was reborn. Not as a savior, not as a king… but as the villain of my own story."

Present Day

Ryder sat in stunned silence, his mind struggling to grasp what he had just heard. Destroyer's past… his pain, his rage, his transformation… This wasn't just a man who ruled with fear. He was a man forged in fire. Destroyer smirked, breaking the silence.

{Destroyer} "Fight, Ryder."

"Fight until you die. Because that's the only reason you're still alive right now."