'L—Late general…' the crowd inwardly gulped, but none spoke out of sheer horror, their faces paler than ghosts.
Adam, who stood still on the stage expected their expressions. He took a deep breath and fixed the cuffs on his tight black suit that looked like sothing one would wear to a funeral before speaking once again.
"I understand what you all are thinking, and I sympathize with your concerns… I can assure you I am far more distraught than anyone in the world… When I find out what happened, or who the culprit was, I assure you I will be the first person to erase them from existence. But, now is no ti to panic, nor focus our efforts on it."
He reaffird his brilliant, sky blue eyes as the wind waved his long, blonde, tied ponytail erratically in the cold, night-ti breeze.
"We are unsure if the supre general is indeed dead. For now, he is simply missing, and no amount of trackers could catch his presence. It is a phenonon that we have yet to experience, let alone understand. We are simply running under the assumption that he is dead. We have to assu the worst-case scenario…"
"..."
He took a pause, followed by a deep breath.
"I will not sugar coat anything. Tensions of war between us and the Shalkers have been mounting for a very long ti now. The news of the supre general's disappearance will not fail to reach the Shalker's ears, even if we put all our efforts into preventing any information leakage. Now, it is almost certain that the war will recomnce within the next year!"
Adam's voice resounded, rattling the spines of those not only standing in front of him, but those as well watching at ho witnessing it all unfold.
But that was when Adam's voice echoed once again.
"BUT! Now is not the ti to panic! THIS is why we need to act fast! I call upon all people of the world to stay vigilant! Do as much as you can! Take the initiative to save your own kind!
We, the military will be too! When the ti cos, if we see sufficient… we WILL conscript any fighting capable human! Just as we did before! No matter your race, age, power, or status! All will be joining forces!"
"I UNDERSTAND! This is a lot for you to take in all at once. AND, It's a lot for to ask! As such! I will volunteer myself, as the flesh and blood of the forr supre general, to take his place for now, and fight along all of you at the front lines with my own strength! I wish that you would have the courage to do the sa!
Fight alongside ! No matter how little your efforts are! You WILL be fully compensated! THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SELFISHNESS! THIS IS A TI TO FIGHT AS ONE AND DEFEND ALL OF HUMANITY!! ARE YOU ALL WITH !!" He raised his right fist up in the sky, sending shockwaves that blue back the clouds above, allowing the light of the sky to shine down upon them.
The crowd stood srized for what to them, felt like several seconds, mouths gaping before settling on the ferocious, blazing gaze of their new supre general. And as they did, the flas of his gaze extended to the entire space, lighting the hearts of all who heard it ablaze, responding with their entire being.
"YES!! SUPRE GENERAL SIR!!" They scread in unison, their right fists straight as an arrow pointing to the sky.
"I HAVE RECEIVED YOUR VOICES LOUD AND CLEAR! Today was ant to be a day of celebration to commorate our generation's strongest! But, today's events, and my speech right now have sullied that… I don't want that to happen… As such, please go on with the festivities! Have fun with your friends and families! But, keep what I said in mind!
These next weeks may be the final weeks of relaxation our current reality will allow! THAT IS AN ORDER! UNDERSTOOD!?"
"YES, SUPRE GENERAL SIR!!"
Adam stretched his raised fist out wider, taking a deep glance at the crowd. He looked satisfied. He gave a look of firm acknowledgent to all before disappearing, dissolving into a blob of shadows. Yet, even though he was gone, his presence and impact still could still be felt in the very air.
"Wow… Everyone's a lot more pumped about imminent war than I expected…" Jayden comnted, gazing down with wide-open eyes, her voice barely even audible from the seemingly endless cheers below.
"No, this is completely expected." Moby took a step to her side.
"Really? Is it because of his public speaking skills? I didn't think soone as quiet as him could pull it off."
"No, it's not that either." He shook his head.
"It's because everyone here is from a rich or powerful family. Correct?" Abby interjected from behind.
"Exactly," He smiled, snapping his fingers. "I can almost guarantee you that a lot of the poor people watching at ho are cursing the heavens. Everyone here has a lot to gain from contributing in the war, but many of those at ho will be nothing but cannon fodder when it cos to the battlefield, especially those with no abilities."
"I see… that sounds about right now that I think about it… The only exception to the rule is probably those infatuated with the supre general and his lineage…" Jayden pondered. "I bet a lot of people are feeling scared and hopeless right now…"
"Indeed…" Moby solemnly nodded, but that was when a smile manifested on his face from ear to ear with a slight glow in his pupils. "But, that's where we, and our new guild, co in… ha ha ha! This actually plays so well into our plans!" He couldn't help but break out into laughter.
It was a sight that neither Abby nor Jayden expected or even understood, but one that no doubt made them feel a nostalgic tingle in certain ways.
"I assu you'll let us know when the ti cos, correct," Abby spoke, leading to a nod in response.
"Indeed," Moby's smile grew even further, resting both hands upon his neck and slowly walking away.
"Huh!? You leaving already? But we only just t!" Jayden pouted.
"Just t? You and I have been talking for hours!" He laughed, and before Jayden could retort, he chose to continue talking. "Don't worry!" He flicked her on the head. It won't be for long! I just have a school farewell party to attend to! Everyone will be there, and it'd be rude for to miss out!
We three can talk more later! Even with all the news, I doubt your father would pass up on the opportunity for a celebration when I go back to earth! It's been really fun seeing you two again! See ya!"
"Co back soon! I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU!"
He waved his hands and jumped away, smiling and looking down to see Jayden's teary-eyed look waving towards him, and a small glimpse of a smile from Abby looking above.
Moby was now left alone, leaping from building to building on his way to the virtual mansion where the party would soon begin.
However, it was not very long until he was joined by another who seemingly manifested out of thin air, hopping next to him.
"Oh, Avilia, you were listening the whole ti?" He turned around to see the demon lord herself, still wearing that school uniform that oddly did not look out of place on her body.
"Of course I was! When was it in the past year have I ever left your side?"
"Yeah, right…" He scratched his head. "So, you ca here to ask sothing?"
"Hm?" She opened and closed her eyes. "Do I really need a reason to be with my successor? I'm with you all the ti, is it odd now because you can see my physical form?"
"No no! It's not that!" He vigorously shook his head. "I just asked the question out of instinct!"
"Huh?" She sighed. "Well, if you have to ask, I'm here to ask you about how removing your demon corruption has changed your perception of those two. I'm really curious… Like… Did you find that Jayden girl too clingy and annoying? The redhead maybe a little dull or underwhelming?"
"Huh? That was out of pocket," He could not help but chuckle. "Abby has gone through a lot, I'm surprised she's as well as she is now! And Jayden might seem a little clingy, but, anyone would be after a whole year of not seeing a loved one! If anything, you're way more clingy than her!"
"WHA!" Avilia blurted. "Idiot! That's because I'm forced to put up with you for the future of demon-kind!"
"PFFF!" Moby burst out into tears. "I was just playing around! I didn't think you'd be so combative!"
"Arrghh…" Avilia shook her head, looking away. "Just answer the damn question already. Now's no ti for jokes… How did removing your corruption make you feel?"
"..."
Moby's joyful attitude abruptly shifted almost lancholic, taking a slight pause.
"Like you… I was really curious too… No, more like I was worried… Were all my feelings fake? Have I been forcing myself to like people, even though my true self didn't?
I needed answers, and I finally had my first chance to solve them… … I don't know if staying with them for so long had deluded even my true self… But… The way I perceive them, at least to now, seed to have not changed in the slightest." He twisted his head and gave Avilia a lukewarm smile, but looking at her, she seed to bear little to no outer expression.
"Stop over-complicating things dumbass…" She sighed. "It might be true, that you may not be where you are now without a little delusion. But now, you understand where those people ca from, their habits, their personalities, their struggles, their feelings. And knowing all that, your clear mind decided to make the judgent of how to feel about their current self.
That's all that really matters in the end, right?"
"..."
"Hey… Avilia… "
"Yes?"
"Thank you so much for saying that… It makes feel a lot better you know?"
"You're welco… I guess…"
She did not even look Moby in the face as she lowered her vision even lower, half closed with a sombre look.
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