Lord Shadow

Sofia looking at this finally confirm what she heard before about Death Monarch is true.

She herself is rarely at Pandemonium and while people knows her, they rarely thought of her much and she is not thought to contribute to the development of Pandemonium.

That might not be fair but that is the opinion of the people in Pandemonium.

To then, the founder of Pandemonium is Death Monarch Azief and the Three Army is the co-founder of Pandemonium.

As she looks at this scene she realizes that Azief position in the hearts of Pandemonium is far more venerated than she thought

Even the President of the World Government would not get such respect since not all people living under him agree on all of his policy.

The same could be said for the Republic that sometimes passed laws in their territory that the people did not really agree on.

What is more impressive is that there is no pressure from soldiers or anyone opening the way for Azief.

Everyone had voluntarily knelt to the ground and kowtowed toward Azief. It was like they had seen their god descending from heavenly realms to stain his foot on the mortal realm

Even the merchant that was thrown before kowtowed to the ground respectfully and did not complain at all.

Many people after realizing the identity of the woman immediately guesses who the person in all black outfit is.

The shock in their heart is incomparable so they all open a path by themselves, knelt and then kowtowed to him

Because everyone in Pandemonium knows that since Death Monarch has come out from the Centre Palace, it means he is now leaving.

And with that realization, many emotions are rising up from the resident of Pandemonium

Death Monarch. To people outside Pandemonium, his name symbolizes fear and ultimate might

But to the people of Pandemonium while there is fear in their hearts, there is also the feeling of ultimate respect for him

He is the protector of Pandemonium. Few people in Pandemonium had seen Death Monarch come out from the Centre Palace and went into the streets.

The people of Pandemonium could only gaze on that Palace and express their gratitude by bowing to the area of the Palace.

Why?

Because while the other part of the world is terrified and uneasy with their safety, fearing their uncertain future, leaving the weak on the mercy of the strong, in Pandemonium, it was peaceful and happy.

There is threat of course but most of the time it is one of the safest place in the world right now.

With Death Monarch sitting on his throne, he is like some kind of a Great Guardian that deters all evil people from stepping inside Pandemonium.

Many families settle down here and they were always grateful for the protection he rendered.

Death Monarch rarely come out from his Palace but even that is enough. The fact that he is there fills the heart of the people of Pandemonium with security.

Even his name is enough to terrify people from committing crime in Pandemonium.

They are no internal wars, no warlords vying for powers or two organization using their leaders as some kind of proxy war

There is only one ruler that the people of Pandemonium acknowledges. Even the unruly warriors and powerful people that stay in Pandemonium would follow his order without question.

His might and prestige is the highest. Many times he had saved the world and he had pay the price for such things gaining him the support of heroes all over the world.

Even his enemies respected him and some would even stand in favor of him on certain matters.

Death Monarch Azief.

He is the Great Protector of Pandemonium. He is Pandemonium.

Now, that they saw Death Monarch walking down the streets, there is boundless sorrow in their hearts.

Death Monarch is leaving.

They have lived under his protection for so many years and will probably be continuing live under the protection of his name even after he leaves and this is the only way they knew how to express their gratitude to Death Monarch

In front of him more people lined up from the distance, kneeled and kowtowed to the ground, gratitude filling their hearts and an unwavering devotion.

Some people followed the others and kowtowed to the ground, clearly unfamiliar with such way of showing gratitude but while they look clumsy, their intent and Will and gratitude is carried over to Death Monarch

Everyone seems to be alerted of the presence of Death Monarch in the marketplace and everyone had rushed to come

Shopkeepers jumped out from their counter as they close their business and went to the marketplace and bowed to Death Monarch

They knew that lofty person had finally left the Centre palace and had come among them.

Even the dignitaries that is coming to congratulate Death Monarch were hold up by the traffic of people running to the marketplace as the scene of people rushing and running to the marketplace drew their curiosity

They finally grab one of the people and when they heard that Death Monarch has come out from the Centre Palace they also rushed their carriage to the marketplace.

When they arrived near the marketplace and they saw the sea of people kowtowing to Death Monarch, shock filled their hearts.

Looking all around them they all see countless of people whether it was the old or young they all bowed to that man and fearing that it would look disrespectful they too climbed out of their carriages and also follow the other gesture and kowtowed to Death Monarch

To people of Pandemonium this kowtow and gesture is not just because of gratitude. It is also because they felt sad and a sense of sorrow as they knew this is Death Monarch farewell.

Azief look at this scene and unconsciously there is a smile on his face.

He could feel their intent and he thought that while he did not think much of these people, these people think much of him.

He thought to himself

‘Maybe it is not that bad protecting people and being a hero’ And he almost laughs at this thought. He never thought of being a hero and his act were more like he was the villain.

But the fear he inspires means hope to some other people.

Under him, people did not have to fear other forces that would force them to become soldiers or being exploited or under the mercy of the powerful.

If one had to be under the mercy of the powerful, then it is better to be under the mercy of a powerful and benevolent dictator.

And what is more benevolent for a dictator than not doing anything? And the sea of people bowing to him all know this.

For titanic figures like Death Monarch once he moves, he would surely step on many ants. So, the most help he can do is by not moving.

Azief look around him and he already wipes the smile out of his face.

But his face looks as emotionless as ever. He looks unperturbed by the scene after he collected himself.

And slowly his aura is rising and he look back up at the sky. His eye is slightly blue.

Somewhere in the Universe, in a closed dimension, a particular dimension seems to be shaken suddenly like it is being stirred to life.

In that dimension there is a large universe.

It is filled with harmful gases and radioactive Universe waste and no life seems to exist here. However, inside this universe there is also three thousand space rips

Three thousand rips that is an oddly specific space rips. And that is not all the odd thing about this Universe of dead stars and poisonous gas.

In that Universe, floating in the epicenter of that universe, is thirteen step of stairs that seems to be made from stars and essence of planets.

It stands still in the epicenter of the Universe like it is being held in place by some heaven defying power.

It emanated an inviolable area and the steps look ancients and at each steps there is a statue. Thirteen statue for thirteen steps.

Each of the statue depicted a different person and their looks and appearance were all different.

The statues were all covered in star dust and yet even after all these eons, it still stands there without showing signs of rotting of crumbling.

On the other hand, the thirteen steps are replescendent with light and seems to contain all energies that could possibly exist in the whole Omniverse.

It shakes, stirs and then white light seems to radiate from the steps.

The dust on its steps were brushed over by some kind of invisible energy and then that white light that is radiating from the steps gathered and solidify in the bottom step of the stairs.

The light spins around for a few second and then it stopped like it found its target

Then suddenly it shot out and pierce the dimensional barrier.

Meanwhile on Earth as Azief look at the sky, he closes his eyes and he is back in his Inner Universe.

He looks down and see stars and planet beneath his feet. He looks up and while he could not see it he could sense that the barrier is in front of him.

He smiles and said

‘I’m coming’

***

End of this chapter. Next chapter…..the breakthrough. If you like the chapter please vote and leave some comments and don’t forget to rate the chapter