Humbly Sending Off the God of Destruction

"Test Subject: 177013 is in the threshold of going berserk!"

"Hormonal changes of Subject: 17703 is within acceptable range after Stage 1 Therapy Status."

"Should we continue, sir?"

An old man clad in a military uniform wore a pensive and worried look on his face.

"End Stage 1 Therapy within thirty seconds... I can't let this farce continue any longer."

The scientists in the same room as him scurried to end the experiment within the given time.

"Damn it! I'm still alive?"

The young man inside the contained and sanitized room laughed at himself, his chiseled features seemed to twist into dejection, "I have always tried to kill myself whenever we're doing the Therapy, but I often find myself on that border, yet I am forever unable to cross over. It seems that even King Yama himself doesn't want me in Hell."

"I want to die, old man... I've suffered too much. Please, just kill me." The young man let out a sigh.

"You bastard!" The old man raged when he heard the young man's words. He raised his foot and sent a kick at a nearby table, pulverizing it into smithereens right in front of the scientists and doctors.

"Who the fuck is King Yama to take you away from us? I, Golden Dragon will never let anyone end your life!" The old man went inside the room and glared at the young man, "Listen to me, Henry. You'd better live a long life! You've sacrificed so much for our country, and if we cannot even save your life, then we will forever be ashamed!"

The young man heard Golden Dragon's words, but he didn't even say anything in response.

Golden Dragon couldn't help but tear up at the sight of this demotivated young man, he felt as if someone had stabbed through his heart.

This young man was none other than—Henry Murray, the leader of the God of Destruction Squad. He was the best soldier that the Country of Laguna had for a thousand years and Golden Dragon was proud to be one of the instructors who taught him the ways of war since he was young.

As a widely-renowned soldier, he could be considered as the pillar and foundation of the faith and glory among Laguna's millions of soldiers!

A year ago, Henry Murray had completed one of the greatest feats of all-time since the founding of Laguna. He and his squad members of about a dozen soldiers destroyed and uprooted the very foundation of a sinister organization called, "The Black Organization".

Sweeping through the lands, Henry killed at least a dozen Inspectors of the organization by himself and cleansed the lands of this tumor.

It was this heroic feat and immense achievement that earned him the godlike status and the title, 'The God of Destruction'.

Unfortunately, the Black Organization didn't go down with a fight. In the middle of the scuffle, however, Henry received serious injuries and he was also poisoned with the most sinister poison ever known to mankind, 'Festering Desire'.

Henry Murray sure was a powerful man, but even his body was unable to thoroughly endure the effects of the Festering Desire. Whenever it flared up, he would be unable to control himself. He'd go on a rampage as if he had turned into a wild beast that sought nothing but destruction.

In fact, he had already harmed one of his comrades forcing the government to send him to Area 69.

Right now, they were at Area 69. A highly classified facility of the government where Henry Murray was undergoing treatment for his illness.

Sadly, apart from endless torture and hormonal therapy to exhaust his body and calm his nerves. The facility and its hundreds of scientists still haven't discovered a proper cure for the Festering Desire.

"Live a long life?" Henry said indifferently, his eyes were bleak without any emotions in them, "What's the point of living? Old man, haven't you seen who am I whenever the poison flares up? I turn into something that's not even a human nor a monster! I idle away every day in this godforsaken place, worrying about harming my fellow comrades or the scientists and doctors here..."

"What's the point?"

"Old man, I am no longer unable to fight on the battlefield. I guess, if I can recognize allies from enemies, then I can still be a weapon of mass destruction for this country. But look at me, right now!"

"Look at who I am!"

"Look at this mess!"

"I'm not fit to be a soldier anymore."

"All I do every day is waste precious resources that could've been given to the young people that would eventually replace me."

"Living is hell for me, old man."

"Death is my sole release."

Henry Murray was still afraid of death.

Who wasn't?

It was just he had become numb.

Wallowing in depression and self-deprecation, nothing seemed to matter to him anymore.

He couldn't see any hope in this darkness, nor any reason to live tomorrow. He felt so guilty every day for the brothers that he had accidentally harmed when his illness flared up.

Spending his days like this was crueler than undergoing torture every day.

A soldier like him who had offered his body, soul, and heart to the country should've been given the respite of death.

Yet, why was he still alive?

The young soldiers standing behind Golden Dragon couldn't help but tear up. Seeing the symbol of their faith and glory wanting to die so badly made their hearts tremble. Even Golden Dragon had fallen silent, he couldn't say anything upon hearing Henry's words.

"Sir, the God of Destruction's condition is only getting worse. If he stays demotivated like this without any desire to live, then it'll be bad news... We all know that the mind holds sovereignty over the body, if he stays like this, then the next time the illness flares up might be the day that he dies!"

A scientist walked over and carried with him a bag filled with white powder. "We've discovered that his illness has some similar effects on the brain as ADHD. We did some tests and we discovered that cocaine can help shorten the time of his fits while increasing the time it takes for the illness to flare up and make its return."

Golden Dragon stiffened where he stood. He had always been a decisive commander. In fact, everyone in the government recognized him as a crazy bastard for leading his army of a thousand against ten thousand! He had won that battle with his decisiveness. This was the conclusion that everyone received upon reading the reports related to that battle.

Golden Dragon was a decisive man, yet at this moment. He couldn't help but hesitate. Henry Murray was a hero! He was the God of Destruction that single-handedly raised the hundred thousand strong soldiers of the God of Destruction Squad! Do they really have to resort to this? But if they didn't, then what would happen to Henry?

His illness was now flaring up at least once a week from its previous once a month. If their estimates were right, then the day that Henry would suffer at least ten fits a day would definitely come. If that happened, then wouldn't that be the same as turning Henry into a mindless beast that knew nothing but destruction and killing?

Golden Dragon took the bag and walked over to Henry.

"No!" Henry saw the bag and his figure abruptly blurred. Arriving beside Golden Dragon, he kicked the bag away forcefully in rage as he cried out, "I am a loyal soldier of Laguna! I'm the God of Destruction known as Vajrada Shivada! You're going to let me use this thing and turn me into a drug addict?!"

The elite soldiers behind Golden Dragon trembled in fear. Even though the scientists were ready to inject medicine into Henry's veins the moment he turned into a beast, these soldiers still felt fear when they saw how fast Henry had moved from the center of the room towards Golden Dragon's side.

They reckoned that all of them wouldn't probably last ten seconds in a battle against Henry.

But Golden Dragon stared at Henry in mockery, "So, now you are saying that you are a loyal soldier of Laguna. You still recognize who you are and you still understand that you're the God of Destruction, Vajrada Shivada. Yet, what is going on? How come you're wallowing in depression and wanting to die so desperately? Have you become a coward, Henry? Are you not going to fight against that illness?"

Golden Dragon's gaze seemed to pierce through Henry's heart, "Where's your dignity? Where's your honor? Where's that bravery and courageous heart that inspired the hearts of millions throughout the land? Is it still there? All right, If I ever hear the word, 'die' coming out of that mouth of yours, then I will be kicking you out! My army has no place for cowards!"

Henry's face turned red. In front of Golden Dragon's rage, he felt immense shame.

Golden Dragon coldly snorted. Taking out a brown envelope from his chest pocket, he hurled it over to Henry after some hesitation. "I've been hiding this secret from you since five years ago. To be honest, I didn't want to hide it from you, but I am forced to do so. After all, you're the government's greatest asset, and letting you know about this would definitely cause you some distraction."

"But since you're already in this state. I suppose the government can finally turn a blind eye."

"Take a look at the file inside the folder and make a decision. Are you going to die right now, or are you going to live for the sake of your wife and daughter? If you want to leave them alone in this world, then feel free to kill yourself." Golden Dragon threw his gun over to Henry, startling the elite soldiers who were afraid that Henry might take that gun and point it at them if his illness flared up.

Wife and Daughter?

Henry furrowed his eyebrows. He then opened up the file and his pupils constricted as he exclaimed in surprise, "I have a daughter? I have a... daughter?!"

Henry stared at the young lass in the photo and he noticed in an instant that she did kind of resembled his features. The phoenix-shaped eyebrows of the young lass and her sharp nose definitely did come from Henry. After all, Henry was still a handsome man. He was confident in that department.

Staring at the photo, his eyes that were previously blank started to rekindle with hope and renewed vigor.

"I-Is this true...?" Henry felt that everything had been too sudden. One moment he was in the middle of despair, but now he felt as if he was in the middle of a dream that he hoped to never wake up from. However, when he pinched his arm, he hissed in pain.

"The government never gives fake intel. You know the rules, and so do I. Also, why would I even lie to you?"

"I'm sure that you still remember that first mission that we gave you in Dalaget five years ago, right?" Golden Dragon coldly replied.

Henry stood frozen.

Yes, he remembered that scene five years ago, so vividly.

He could still see the gorgeous figure of that woman who had been the only woman in his life.

"Take the other file in that folder. That's your discharge report. On account of your outstanding contributions to the country. The government will not revoke your military authority, rank, and position. You can finally go outside and meet with that wife and daughter of yours. Now, get the fuck out of here. Looking at you acting like a sissy makes me sick!" Golden Dragon scoffed.

"What?" Henry stared at him in shock, "Old man, can I really leave? The second rule in the God of Destruction Squad is that the only way out of the squad is death. I'm sure you already know of our squad's reputation as the suicide squad of Laguna..." Henry froze mid-sentence.

It was because Golden Dragon didn't seem to be lying.

If this was true, then Henry could only imagine the suffering and sacrifice that Golden Dragon had to make to procure this discharge report.

"Hmmph. Are you cracking a joke? Who can possibly stop me from doing whatever I want?"

Golden Dragon stared at Henry in derision, the pride in his voice and figure was thick.

It was at this moment that Henry's eyes landed on the golden stars on Golden Dragon's shoulders. He vividly remembered that the stars on Golden Dragon's shoulders were five. Yet now, there were only four!

"Old man, your ra—"

"Shut up!"

Golden Dragon scowled, "Are you still going to stand there? Are you going to leave or not?"

"Remember to take that experimental medicine that these bunch of freeloaders made three months ago. I'm sure you'll know what will happen once you start taking that medicine, right? I sure hope that you're prepared for the consequences!"

The doctor who was standing beside Golden Dragon all this while paled when he heard the former's words, "Marshal! We can't let him—"

"Shut your trap!"

Golden Dragon glared at him, "He has already made his decision ten minutes ago. You might be smart, but you sure are blind!"

Henry Murray lightly chuckled, he stood up and grinned, "I'll be going then, old man."

He only took a few steps outside the room when he stopped and turned around, "Old man. When you die, I'll be sure to attend your funeral. I'll pay my respects to you as my previous instructor and I'll drink all that alcohol that you've been hiding in your basement as an offering to appease your soul."

"Fuck off!" Golden Dragon angrily roared.

Henry boisterously laughed.

Holding the photo of his daughter in his hand, his heart warmed up.

It was as if he could feel that he had another purpose and future to live in this world.

"Henry..."

Golden Dragon called out.

Standing outside the sweltering heat of the desert, Golden Dragon remained steadfast like an immovable mountain.

"Remember. Once a soldier, always a soldier. Even when you're gone, the legacy that you left in this country will remain. The sky is ours to hold up while the earth is for yours to walk on. You've contributed enough to this country, Henry. It's time for you to relax and retire."

"However, I just want to tell you that you must never forget your roots and you will forever be the God of Destruction in our hearts! The soldier that I raised and I am so proud about."

Golden Dragon stuck his feet closer to each other and with a resounding smack. He raised his arm and placed his fist over his heart as he declared, "I, Golden Dragon, humbly send you off, your Majesty Vajrada Shivada, and Laguna's God of Destruction!"

More smacks echoed throughout the area as the elite soldiers behind Golden Dragon cried out, "We humbly send you off, Laguna's God of Destruction! Your Majesty, Vajrada Shivada!"

Henry returned their gesture with a simple nod.

Turning around, he never once looked behind him as he crossed the desert alone in big strides.

But it wasn't that he didn't feel anything in front of their sincere gestures. It was just he was afraid of being criticized for shedding tears for the first time in all these years that he had served as a soldier.

Tightly clenching his fists, Henry suppressed his tumultuous emotions from appearing on his face, but he ultimately failed.

For on his stoic and chiseled features dripped a single tear!