Ding!

—

╔════════╗

║FEAR GAIN!║

╚════════╝

[Fear Points: 6 → 6.2]

—

Though the improvement was barely there, it was still an ’improvement.’

Whether it was solely due to his recent charge through the Demons, or simply consequential gains from his incredible feat being spread, or a mix of both, Malik was slowly gaining Fear Points.

’Very good.’

It was a bit too slow, but he wasn’t in the mood to complain.

He was excited to finally check out what else the system had to offer and finally have a moment to himself!

The city was close now, its walls growing larger with every step, its gates looming, reinforced wood banded with iron.

Guards were stationed there, men who looked much stronger than the ones Malik had been rolling with, their armor and weapons notably better as well.

They stood at attention as the group of soldiers approached, respectfully nodding at them.

"Welcome back."

Despite their superior strength, they had no qualms about showing respect to the soldiers.

And more than that, they knew that their arrival brought only good news.

The second wave was over!

They had survived another day!

But then, the soldiers beside Malik stepped forward, excitedly announcing what they easily saw as most important:

"The Sultan has returned!"

The guards froze up, their mouths hung open, and their eyes went wide, making Malik feel a sense of déjà vu.

No one dared move for the longest time until, as Malik expected, tears welled up in the eyes of the guards.

"Are you sure?"

"Are you absolutely sure?!"

Malik stepped forward.

"Yes, he’s back. Now let us in so we can spread the news."

The guards looked at him, then at each other, then back at Malik.

They nodded quickly and turned to the gate, heaving it open with grunts of effort.

Malik still hadn’t asked his three questions.

He had been too paranoid, too worried that he might get attacked while on the road.

The desert was dangerous, and his mortal body was fragile. But now that he was close to safety, behind walls and among allies, he really wanted to get it over with.

He only hoped not to get interrupted again.

Around him, the soldiers began to walk forward in an organized manner, almost automatically falling into formation and rhythm.

Left, right, left, right.

Malik hung back for a moment, confused, but quickly joined one of the lines and marched along with them.

If he acted weirdly once more, they’d no doubt deem him mentally... unstable, yes, unstable.

He certainly didn’t want that.

The town came alive around them.

Word spread fast. People poured out of their homes and businesses, called by their families, friends, and children.

They crowded the street, pressing against the surrounding buildings, standing on their toes to get a better look.

"Thank you! Thank you all!"

"Bless the Suns for your return!"

"You kept us safe again!"

They cheered for the soldiers’ arrival, thanking them for another day in this world, another day of survival against Corruption.

"Look! Loook! It’s the soldiers!"

"So cool!"

"I want to be like them someday!"

Many kids looked up at the soldiers with wide eyes, their small faces burning with awe.

They pointed at the black blood still drying on the soldiers’ blades. They whispered to each other about which soldier looked the strongest and who had killed the most Demons.

All of which a certain Sultan heard.

Malik felt... incredible.

Their gratitude alone felt like enough reward for all that he had done.

But of course, it wasn’t the only reward.

A lovely sound graced his mind.

Ding!

—

╔════════╗

║FEAR GAIN!║

╚════════╝

[Fear Points: 6.2 → 6.3]

—

Truly slow, but...

’Nice.’

Nevertheless.

The marching continued through the main street, and the crowd followed them, growing larger with every step.

More people seemed to emerge from the side alleys.

Everyone wanted to see the heroes who blessed them with another day.

Eventually, the marching stopped.

The soldiers came to a halt in their city square, a wide-open space with a fountain in the center and a large stone building at the far end.

The soldiers glanced at Malik, silently asking him to announce it, perhaps fully accepting him as their leader at this point.

He had more than proved himself, and besides, they all knew of an enduring truth:

’Beware of him who grows old where most die young.’

Finding that more than agreeable, Malik walked between them until he stood before all the soldiers and the gathered crowd.

"The waves upon us today were the fiercest yet."

He raised his blackened sword high, the steel still stained with Demon blood.

"But we have prevailed! For it is our duty to prevail!"

Malik spoke so eloquently that one might forget that he was making all this up on the spot.

"We shall never kneel to our enemies! Never! The day our knees touch the ground before them is the day we die! And what an honorable day that would be!"

The soldiers erupted.

"For The Sun!"

"For The Sun!"

"For The Sun!"

The crowd joined in, their voices rising with each chant. Children clapped their hands. Old men nodded with tears in their eyes. Women held their babies close and whispered prayers of thanks.

"Indeed, your devotion to the Second Sun bore fruit!"

Malik waved his sword and smiled.

"We’ve had good word of his return!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

Silence fell.

The cheering stopped, the chanting died, and the crowd stood still, their faces caught between hope and disbelief.

They simply couldn’t believe it.

The Sultan had been gone for so long.

So many had given up hope. So many had stopped waiting.

But Malik was adamant; he needed them to believe it!

Sheathing his sword, he pointed one finger at the sky.

"THE SULTAN IS BACK!"

Or rather at the Second Sun.

Ding!

—

╔════════╗

║FEAR GAIN!║

╚════════╝

[Fear Points: 6.3 → 6.5]

—

"Long live the Sultan!"

The shout came from the soldiers first.

"Long live the Sultan!"

Then the fathers joined in.

"Long live the Sultan!"

Then the mothers.

"Long live the Sultan!"

Then the young men and women, those who had grown up in a world without their Sultan.

"Long live the Sultan!"

Eventually, even the children joined. Their small voices repeating the words they had heard their parents say for years.

"Long live the Sultan!"

All of them screamed those four words. Their Sultan had returned. The Second Sun had risen again. The hope that had been buried in their hearts for so long finally broke free.

"Long live the Sultan!"

"Long live the—"

BOOM!

A large explosion rocked the gates far behind them.

Flames and smoke billowed into the sky, and the ground shuddered under Malik’s feet.

’Ah... of course.’

Malik looked at the explosion with a deadpan face.

Of course something had to interrupt the celebration.

Of course he couldn’t have one quiet moment to ask his questions.

The cityfolk around him quickly huddled together, pulling their children close.

But surprisingly, they didn’t run, nor did they scream in terror. Instead, most of them looked at the incoming danger and started shouting back.

"GET OUT, YOU INVADERS!"

"OUR SULTAN WILL END YOU!"

"YOU WILL NEVER TAKE OUR LAND!"

It seemed there was another aspect to this world that Malik didn’t know about.

The way they reacted to such a violent explosion was almost casual.

Yes, they were used to this.

Used to attacks, explosions, and death knocking on their walls.

But "invaders"? Were there more than Demons attacking them?

Other people perhaps? Other nations?

While Malik was lost in thought, the soldiers around him began pushing back the citizens.

Though they were strong in voice, they were nothing more than burdens on the battlefield. Extra weight that needed to get behind the lines, out of the way.

Men, women, and children stumbled back from the square, retreating toward the stone building at the far end.

Standing in the middle of the chaos, Malik raised his sword once more.

’Man.’

He sighed.

’I’ve really been sent right into the middle of it.’