Part 3: The Fours Potentate
Somewhere in the World Border…
World Border, a place where human souls come to make a contract, an agreement before sending of into other world in which upon arrive they become a Hero, Villain, Monster and more. But… this isn't the story about them… but me.
I once have a name that been forgot ages. But one have call me the "contractor", and a "Monster". Thankfully for all this year, despite living in a place no one should've been, my memory has been keeping me together. Indeed, some say living in a place of nothingness can made them goes insane But I have worked in this border for many years, thousand, or more…
Time in World Border is slower than otherworld but faster than Earth. So long in fact, I have calculated which year and day for Earth. Yet something was missing… 'Why… so many years have pass. The year sentence has pass for a long time. Why must I suffer to see them having entertainment and enjoyment?' as I remember being judge by the court for helping someone important escape the world I live before…
"You have caused many deaths to the Guardians and broke the laws of the world! And thus, thou punishment is to become a contract worker for over 15 years" said the court judge although the face was blurry but I understandingly pissed by the law they've made. 'They lie…' This work, felt eternity… I can't grow old and the mana I mandatory uses is decreasing each time I've made an agreement and having to use it to see something as my eyes is no longer exist.
Furthermore, my own face is just a mouth, eyebrows, a nose, ears, and my skin that becoming whiter to adapt this place. I supposed I have become somewhat a human monster. Moreover, I supposed they aren't that bad for giving me a brownish suit and a brownish fedora hat. But thankfully, my blondie hair didn't get the effect for staying here too long. Yet, every time I bring out the picture I dearly protect for the pocket. It made me wonder, did I fail the promise I made with her? Can I still meet her in this form? Did she survive?
Nevertheless, the outcome I've made cannot be change anymore… But as the time goes by, and the same thing I've been doing making me bored, mad, and insane. I… am a human too… I want to see something, ate something, drink something, felt everything, and see my beloved one… but the courage I have isn't enough to made a rift to earth in where she lived now. And so, I duplicate myself that made me lose half of my mana to made him do all the work without any emotion or sense before I ran far away until that devilish place is gone…
It took me 5 hours running approximately 20 miles away without stopping to catch some air as in this place, you won't be thirst or hungry. As I looked behind my back to see the place was fully gone for my sight. Thus, I've started to plan everything to get more mana and find a way to get to Earth. 'Where do I get more mana…?' Seeing what left of my mana that produce by the aura won't be enough in making a rift to earth but could easily made rift to otherworld. 'I supposed finding some otherworldly people could benefit me'
As I open a window in which views each world and its people. With this many worlds, finding one that could be Manipulate easily would be impossible. Moreover, finding each one with each world would take trillion or more than I ever could. Nevertheless, I started to pick randomly and find out which one that could be my loyal puppet.
***
10 Hours later…
"At last, … I have found one!" oh, how I have endure viewing so many worlds that my non-existence eyes can bleed. 'Loid Arbigor… a War Heroes that have lost everything. Even his own country' I laugh as this would be more easily manipulate. I started to draw a magic circle with the remaining mana. Once it done, I started to summon him. "For world you've come, for the dust you've become, Come Loid Arbigor, become one who can protect all!" as the circle glowing to see a body slowly regenerate for the skeleton to the body and clothing of the man.
'This must be Loid Arbigor?' seeing a defeated man kneeling down, with really messy hair with a rope around his neck that seem to say that he about to die for suicide. "What a lucky man you are. Yet I found it disappointing that you used it to kill yourself. But I fondly believe that with this change I gave you, you will have a better live" Yet, they were silent.
'Huh, I've expected they was happiness or sadness, didn't thing they was only silent' before I could say something, he started to say something. "Why…?" it's was very sudden and unexpected to see a defeated man spoke.
"Pardon?"
"Why did you let me live…?" although, I haven't yet had an answer for that but I muttered to myself 'Wow, I waste my mana for this? I guess I have no choice but slowly manipulate him' as I walk toward him and kneel down in front and extending my hand to his left shoulder. I looked at his emotionless eyes that seem to be lost and wanted to die "Are you really going to let her down? Will Luna ever forgive you?"
Shocked, the man was shocked for what he said to him. "H-how do you know her name...?" as I stood with my hand in front of him, to help him stood up as the light of the world border behind my back making him seeing something that can be called angelic. "Join me… No matter what happen or dangerous it could be… I will help. As long, you will help me… together we are a team. A team that helps each other…" at last, he was fooled by the lied I've made up. While he only seen the act of a kind, and saviour.
"As a teammate. What can I do to help you?" as loid looked at the divine man that was just a fooled him.
"Bring me mana stone…" in every world, the mana stone was very common to be used. But no one have used it perfectly than me.
'Well, this would be easy'
As loid stood up with the help of him. The worker, secretly smirk seeing a new toy. A loyal puppet. "Time have passed 3 years in your world. So, in that 3 years you would see the corruption of your world government and its new war heroes…"
"Sighed, seemed my people will getting poorer each year…"
"But of course you could help them. Give them Prosperity and salvation... Or maybe, created your own country…" as the man give him a kind speech. In which motivated him…
As the bond kept getting better. But loid wasn't sure if he has a named or seem to give his name. "I supposed you have a name to share?"
"A name huh? I've been living here for very long time… a name, something I have forgot for the past century or more…"
"They must be any kind of name? or do you have any kind of nickname?"
"I supposed you can call me a worker…"
'Worker?'
They are many names he could've have choose. Yet "Worker" is the name he chooses. Nevertheless, he shrugged it off thinking it was a joke.
By the time the conversation ended. The man who called himself a worker Snapped his finger in which create a rift out of thin air. As unexpected it was, this supposedly impossible somehow becomes possible as loid looked amaze.
"Before you leave. Take this Small Square box with you. It would help you in exporting the mana stone to me…"
Loid seems curious seeing small blackish square box with what seem to be gemstone on middle of the left side.
"Also, before you leave. Find the hidden temple in your home world. It would greatly aid you in revolting your home world corrupt government."
"alright"
Once loid left the border. The kind smile of a kind man becomes a laugh of a monster. As the man smile so sinister seeing his plan worked. "Oh, how easy it is to manipulate people. Oh… how foolish I am. Thinking I would greatly help him."
'Yet again. I'll must wait about 10 other world years for the mana to arrive' Thus, I began to wait for its arrival for 10 years…
***
At last, 10 years of the other world and thousands of years in world border. The mana stone have finally arrived. As the quantity of the mana stone piling up. I began dance in happiness seeing this many mana stone. Furthermore, with this many mana stone piling up. I have expected him finally achieve his objective and probably become somewhat leader to his people and his beloved newest country.
As I open his window status seeing I was correct. He has become a ruler. An emperor to his new empire. Other than that, I began to extract the mana for the stone each by absorbing its aura. The purplish aura of the stone has become for what people say transparent or more to crystal clear. But of course. Some would say this is impossible to absorb. And of course, they were correct as the stone is used in Blacksmith. But what they don't know that the original aura will be released into the air in which making the mana stone cost lower.
One by one I've absorbed. Everyday. Every hour the aura, the mana I have collect becomes stronger. Yet I felt like my own puppet was killed. As I looked at the transparent mana stone and the one, I haven't yet absorbed. It seems that I have absorb more.
Although it's not as I cared if he stops exporting the mana stone to me in 25 years. Yet it felt strange…
As I view his status window to see he was deceased…
'Oh my… what a short live'
But with the mana he has. He no longer afraid to use high magic. He draws a magic circle and starts to use [Resurrection] to bring back Loid for the dead. As the circle glowing more brighter, with the soul appearing in the middle before the body slowly regenerate for the skeleton, Organ, veins, the rest of the body until his clothes.
"Well, well, well… How fascinating I am. Seeing you've become an emperor" seeing his clothing that was made with cotton and nylon. Moreover, with clothed looking as a military leader uniform with a cape and a blackish and grey colour.
"Heh, 25 years it took you to cut your messy hair huh?"
I was pretty much envy seeing the stunning he has become for only lasting 25 years.
"I supposed you have some reason to die this fast. Was it greed that killed you? Or was it rebellion?"
Although what seem an obvious answer. Turn out to be something else…
"I supposed I died in a war. my head got cut off by a friend of the scythe hero… but that was the only way I suppose… every other world nation Army has entered my territory and its capital. All of it has happen once my general's died in the hand of other enemy heroes."
"Ah… what's an honorific death you and your heroes have fought"
He has changed a lot in the in the past 25 years… But as I view his aura. I can felt the power of the temple…
'So, he did find the temple'
I laugh seeing how much have change but I stopped mid talk seeing his face looked like needed a revenge. But of course, they are a way to change that kind of expression easily…
"Seem I have forgot to tell you something. Hm… what was it? Ah! It's time for you to meet up with the other two leader that are the same as you."
"The other?"
"Well, you see… Loid. Haven't you though or thing of were the heroes come from?"
"No? I suppose every world have its own hero. But I do hear some theory of existing of other world for the world I come from…"
"Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! The percentage of heroes you have fought come from a world called earth!"
"Earth?"
"You see. Loid or should I say Emperor Loid. The reason, you've failed to conquer other is because the earthling soul reincarnated as a hero for the world you come from. Moreover, that is where I got my nickname.
"What is your point? Giving me this… theories of yours?"
I extended my left hand toward his left shoulder and made him imagine it "Thing about it. If we destroyed, they world. You could expand your country territory to its fullest without any heroes to be reincarnated left…
Loid started to smile sinisterly seeing the idea of his territory expansion into enemy territory without single heroes to fought.
"I see now… than when will I met the other leaders?"
"Glad you asked!"
As he snapped his finger. The other magic circle starts to glows brighter, while resurrect the other 2 leader. As the left side start to show a soul…
But not a normal human soul but a greyish soul of a monster…
As a body start to regenerate differently. Loid was shock seeing something horrified being resurrect. 'Is this the power of the worker…"
A transparent crystal started to form in the air across the greyish soul. As it regenerates, so as the crystal that seem to be resemble as quartz. Yet the crystal wasn't just slowly shaping into what seem to be a human. It also slowly shaping into clothing that resemble a suit, a hat that resemble a top hat, and a cane that was clench by the left side if it hands after it was regenerate. Moreover, the right side is more different…
As it resurrects a soul becoming a colour that resemble pitch dark, and it regenerate somewhat shadowy gas across the soul.
[The Absolute Shadow]
"Ah… At last. I have return for the dead!" as I spoke. So was a light on it centre that seem to be reminding that he was speaking.
"Oh, how long has it been? 12? 100? Never mind how much years I've been dead. It's been a long time. We haven't met worker, or should I say my friend…"
"Haha, it's been 100 other world years. Shadow friend" as they both standing there laughing with each having conversation. Loid staring at the other Leader that seem to be made with a crystal that have a murderous vibe. While both of them standing menacingly with an attention to kill each other.
[Crystal King]
[Name: Quartz]
"I sense that you've been abusing every material with overexploitation… hm… they are crying for being torture and was use it for war… You human are just the same. A biological that been made with greed…"
He started the clench his fist with intention to fight loid as he started to run at him with full speed. Luckily, Loid manages to block his punch by hardening his hand into an armour that resemble a purplish vein…
"Half human… you should have sensed my ability a while ago."
Ability… an ability of [Lost Temple Soul King] that was lost… untouched by any civilization that conquer it planet. Furthermore, this ancient ability that been used by loid isn't just alive but have a soul to fight any heroes, if the owner died in a fight.
Both pull back for the fight and start to amidst massive aura that match each other. Both mutter to themselves 'Let see who will die first!'
Before they could fight each other. He appears in the middle of the fight while clapping his hand "Alright, it's time for the fight to end here." Eventually they both understand and slowly disappearing they aura and knowing fighting him would be a bad idea.
"Now… let us have some conversation about the plan I have made." He snapped his finger once more, and sending the four of them in what seem to be table. A somewhat futuristic table that could produce a hologram of a planet, that is Earth.
"Wow, this place sure has changed a lot" as Loid looked around seeing the decoration and other stuff in place where they are nothing but the white void. "Living here in century or thousand, have made me bored. But anyways there are 2 plans that's we will talk about."
"Plan A: we first, investigate if the earthling worth to live. If… they were worth to live, then we should at least let them live."
Everyone exclude Him was shock hearing the first plan. The crystal and shadow muttered to each other with a low voice.
'Didn't he said that we would kill the human before?'
'He did say it… but more importantly. The way he acts isn't the same when we first met him before… suspicious I'd say…"
Before they could ask the reason. Loid with his anger asked him "Why do we need to see if they are worth living! Didn't you say to me that the cause of my death was them! Are you trying to betrayed our trust if they were worth living!"
As Loid points his finger toward him. He wasn't arguing or mad, but secretly smirk before saying another lies. "Well, you see… Loid, you haven't let me say the plan b. But aren't you ashamed with the power of the ancient temple that I've help you with, Still isn't enough?"
As Loid thinks about it. He silent himself by the embarrassment he has cause.
"Then let us continue with Plan B. That is, we will wage war but… with territory I have given to everyone. Because, I want a fair fight, war and seeing the companion everyone has. It would be unfair fight, like an ant versus a bomb that could wipe a city."
Thus, everyone except him start to muttered with each other by the plans he has created. 'It seems that everyone would be agreeing Plan B than Plan A'
He knows in fact 1 of the 4 of the leaders is bloodlust and want to kill a human in sigh.
"But of course plan B will be used once I gave the permission to do so. That mean you little quartz shouldn't goes around killing people in your territory without my permission. Furthermore, if they are someone killing the earthling without my permission. Your comrades, Generals, Companions and any other name you would call them, will be killed immediately including you. The leader. The King. The emperor..."
Yet they always the immature one of the groups laughing toward him. "You really think I'll need your permission? I can kill you right here! Right now!" as quartz reshaping his crystal cane into a sharp sword pointing it toward him, the worker.
"If you which to fight. Then let see if you can survive the aura I have collected over the thousand years…"
As he has expected… the three of them were push to the ground by the aura that amidst by the worker. The aura was cold… and dark… as if death was near them. 'What is this monstrous aura?!' as both trying, they best to stood up forcefully.
As the aura vanish. Same with the gravity that were pushing them to the ground. He looked at both of them with disappointment as he said "You are all an immature. You're supposed to be king, emperor that are mature, and intellectual! We are all king in this place! If you cannot follow my plans than you're just an immature that could die easily!"
As the silent goes on. He sighed and started to say.
"Remember, we are the four potentates. Thus, when the permission is met. Then we will wage war on them inside our territory…"
It would take a while for them to understand. But I can wait a while…
***
10 minutes later…
As they both understood it. They both muttered to each other about which territory and continent will be they excluding him. Loid with his ability that was covering his check, and his chin "After what we muttered to each other. Which territory can we choose? Or you have chosen it to us?"
"I have indeed, choose everyone they own territory and his continent"
Then he showed a coloured territory and an image of three of them on the continent that been pick by the "worker" excluding the shadow demon as his image still unknown. The worker looked at the Absolute Shadow with a concern looked as if the shadow cannot walk toward the light.
"Look… shadow… While the other could walk outside in the sun. I fear that you can't wage war in the morning until midnight."
the shadow agreed for what the worker has said. He is in fact, just a shadowy soul without a body. Even if he could go to earth. He would absolutely die, once again. "They are another way... But this would take a lot of years to adapt."
"And that is?" as the worker looked at him with curiosity…
"Possessing a child body."
Silent... No one ever couldn't imagine the idea of his was possessing a child. Everyone was disgust by his idea. Even if the reason was good. Possessing a child is a bit weird…
"Look, we're all a villain. Or what the perspective of others thinks of us… But this is common in the realm I've come from. Although, I won't be surprised if someone be disgust by my idea as none of you are from my realm…"
Everyone agreed that this is the only way for him to go outside the sun. "I suppose, were all done having some conversation? Then I would like to started giving the chosen territory to everyone…"
Quartz, Shadow, and loid looked at each other and nods for him to start selecting for them.
[Asia: Loid Arbigor]
[North America: Quartz]
[Oceania: Shadow]
"And lastly" as he smiled with his cunning smile
[Europe: Worker]
"Me…"
"But of course we only wage war only in this continent. We are all prohibited to attack the other continent. If one of us attack the other continent. Then… you and your generals will be executed in sight without reasoning… The reason I prohibited us attack the other continent… is only to made the war fair as possible."
But of course, no one would dare to lift a finger to conquer the rest of earth continent. As they feared the power. The mana, and the aura I have…
But as time goes on. Conversation, have become more bored… and thus I began to snapping my finger to open a rift. But it wasn't any rift. They all know the different between the normal rift. "Blue rift? Wasn't a normal rift supposed to be green?" as loid surprise by the sudden rift appearing behind them.
"That's is true. But, that kind of rift is a wild one. I've found a way to create an artificial rift with magic to penetrated the thick wall of anti-rift that circle earth. So, before we go to our territory/continent. Remember my plan and rule. Not just that, remember… we are the fours potentates."
Before Loid and quartz enter, they own rift territory destination. "Before everyone left this place. Lend me everyone hand so I can give something useful…" and so both leaders lend they hand toward the worker. Both felt, as a mana extract for the worker to them. [Resurrections have been added] and of course everyone was fascinating with the ability as the worker has used it a lot of time.
"But of course, this can only be using one time… so use it wisely… but I recommend you use it on resurrecting your generals." Thus, once the two of them understood and enter they own chosen territory.
They were the two of them left in the world border. But of course, he understood the fear that shadow have seeing the light of the sun on his territory. "Look, shadow… I know you're afraid that you could die easily. But I am here to help you. Even if… that idea of your disgust everybody."
Seeing the worker tried to help him. He too sighed as hoping to see the sun could be a dying which for him. Suddenly, the worker secretly snapped his finger. In which a wild rift appears behind they back. "This rift is a wild one. I know which realm you were from and this is the one that will lead to all other world inside the dark realm…" as he looked at shadow that was surprised by his kindness.
"When you lend your shadowy hand. I give you another ability other than resurrections…"
"And that is?
"[Rift to Earth] although it's a one-time use. If… you did find a body of a child, and if… you did adapt it slowly… why not try defeat the demon king in that world that you will appear on?"
It was confusing for him to tell me to kill another demon king. But why would he want me to defeat the demon king?
"Why? Would it be better to adapt without killing another demon king like us?"
"Well, I suppose adapting in useless body will just made you weaker than the earthling. But instead of sitting around and do nothing. Why won't kill the demon king? It would made you a lot stronger. Not just that… there one hidden ability that we demon king have that unlock once the hero kills them."
"Which is?"
"[The Loyal Champion] …"
"I supposed that ability will be useful for me?'
"Yes. This ability followed by which genres your world is in is different. Some champion can be machine or some can be knight that can pierce the darkness. If, it was in the dark realm… I supposed it would be something that you have to find out by yourself..."
Although the ability is powerful. But I understood as the worker give me other ability than [Resurrections]. But as I think about it, a champion is maybe enough to conquer my territory…
"I guess, it's time for me to find a child body…"
"Yes…"
As the shadow said his final goodbye to the worker. He looked at the worker; to see he tipped his hat to me. Lastly… he was all alone in the world border once again. The kind, polite smile they seen began to be a neutral face. As the place gone quiet, the happiness of lie began to shade away. As he walks toward the last artificial rift he has created. He looked behind him seeing the decoration he made in the past 25 years. "This is the last time I'll be seeing this place. Never again, I would return… even if it means by dying…"
At last, the world border has become quiet, or silent once more…
Part 3: complete
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