Chapter 2050: The Demon King’s Madness

Thanatos’ bones regenerated with rapid force as he stepped backward, his empty eye sockets fixed on the flower that reflected his wife’s face. The soft glow of the bloom seemed to mock him, stirring emotions he had long buried beneath layers of death and ambition.

"E-Eleanora...! I... I am your husband! I never stopped being myself... I... I...!"

He turned toward a giant mirror and stared at his own reflection, his skeletal form trembling in deep disbelief. The hollow sockets of his skull seemed to search for answers that refused to come.

"Am I... really... him...?"

After so much time had passed, he began to realize, or perhaps fear, what he might truly be. The weight of centuries pressed down on him, and the line between the man he once was and the monster he had become grew thinner with every passing moment.

Yet his madness acted like a living monster of its own, steadily consuming what remained of his reason. It whispered and pushed, refusing to let doubt take root for long.

"No, you are not mad, and you are still yourself."

His own reflection spoke to him in a clear, cold voice that cut through the silence of the chamber.

"She is simply wrong. She has been dead for far too long. She is the mad one!"

"But what if she is telling the truth? What if—"

"Stop being a coward! Are you really the same man who killed Yggdrasil? The one who is conquering Arcadia and is soon going to conquer the Netherworld and Earth?!"

"...No, I... I am..."

"YOU ARE THE DEMON KING OF DEATH, THANATOS!"

"...!"

"Whatever that woman says, she is wrong! Eleanora has always been an idealistic woman. You know that, right? She is still holding on to those petty thoughts of ’morality’ and ’righteousness.’ No such things exist once you become a Demon King, Thanatos! You and I both know it!"

"...I know, but... Eleanora, I missed her. How could she be so cruel? I do not want her to hate me. I want her to love me... my very reason to exist is—"

"And she does love you! She truly loves you! She is only confused. Did you not hear her talking about you? That was you, not someone else! She spoke of you, the man she loves!"

"S-So it is... fine...?"

"Yes. She is going to get better... eventually. And if she keeps playing these little games, we simply have to force her back to normal, right?"

"But... no...! T-That is..."

"ENOUGH! ARE YOU GOING TO OBEY ME OR NOT?! I AM YOU! LISTEN TO YOUR OWN HEART, YOU FOOL!"

"...!"

The Demon King of Death stepped back once more, finally realizing that he truly was himself. The last fragments of hesitation began to fade under the force of his own reflection’s words.

"Y-Yes... I understand..."

"Good."

The dark reflection shifted, growing more demonic in appearance as it continued speaking. Shadows deepened around its form, and its voice carried a sharper edge of command.

"We will continue our path toward our goals. And you will not falter! You foolish idiot, you nearly let her words poison you! What are you if not yourself? Hah! Stupid woman."

"...Yes. Eleanora is very stupid."

"Indeed! Now keep feeding that tree. Keep helping her manifest her form. Soon enough our dear, beloved one shall return!"

"...Y-Yes...! She shall return!"

The Demon King of Death forced a smile, his voice cracking and trembling as he left his chambers. The weight of the conversation still clung to him, yet he pushed it down with practiced resolve.

He gave one final look at the tree, which somehow continued to grow slowly in more ways than he had expected. New branches had formed, and the strange energy surrounding it pulsed with new life.

He raised a bony eyebrow and stared at the strange creature that gazed back at him with an unsettling obsession that made him feel sick. Its many eyes followed his every movement, filled with a hunger that went beyond simple obedience.

Its tentacles stretched outward to caress his hand, as if trying to comfort his broken heart. The touch was cold and strangely gentle, yet it only deepened the discomfort in his hollow chest.

Was this creature somewhat intelligent?

He had never considered that possibility before. The thought lingered for a moment, uncomfortable and unwanted.

But it did not matter.

As long as it obeyed him...

Right?

"...Do not touch me."

He shook his hand free and walked away, closing the heavy door and sealing it shut with a firm push of necrotic energy. The sound of the lock settling echoed through the empty corridor.

He entered a vast hall where a giant desk stretched across hundreds of meters. The space felt cold and imposing, filled with the weight of absolute authority.

He sat upon his throne.

Then he snapped his fingers.

Every seat arranged before him, all nine of them, filled at once... or rather, one of them remained empty. The absence was noticeable, like a missing piece in an otherwise complete picture.

Many Death Apostles of every shape and size appeared, yet the most charismatic among them was missing. Their forms ranged from ethereal to monstrous, each one a testament to the power Thanatos had gathered over time.

"We greet the Great Overlord of Death."

His Death Apostles lowered their heads in deep reverence, every single one of them. The air in the hall grew heavier with their collective presence.

Some were corrupted kings of spirits. Others were gods themselves. A few had once been heroes, while others were monsters granted intelligence. Their origins varied widely, yet their loyalty remained firm.

All of them were strong, and all of them remained loyal to him.

Among their ranks stood three Demon Kings, or rather, two, with one of them divided into twins.

The Demon King of Floods appeared as twin mermaids, wearing their usual expressions.

The older sister looked defensive, her posture tense and ready, while the younger one seemed afraid of everything around her, eyes darting nervously across the hall.

Then came the Demon King of Swarms, who had taken a smaller human form.

She remained quiet and still, yet she always wore a faint smile, as if she knew she was stronger than everyone present and was held back only by Thanatos himself.

That quiet confidence set her apart from the rest.

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