The sky was crimson. She couldn't make out her surroundings because of the chaos and fire that was spreading everywhere, but she could make out the screams of people. Some screamed in fear, others in resolution to sacrifice their lives and most just because that was their only option. The scenery truly looked like what Ayla pictured hell would look like.
In the midst of the thousands of people screaming, she could make out a voice. It was strange, considering it wasn't high. Even though the person, whom the voice belonged to, did not scream, in Ayla's opinion, it was the one that had the most impact.
It was because it was filled with a lot of heavy emotions. Anger, hatred, sadness, fear and resignation. The screams and scenery faded and was replaced with black, as if she had closed her eyes. She could hear the voice clearly now, though she still couldn't make out where it came from.
"Does this please you? This madness?" It was a female voice, sounding like it belonged to an young adult. Though that didn't really mean anything in a world with magic, since there were plenty of spells for altering your voice, becoming younger(though not without any side effects, at least to Ayla's knowledge) and others that could change the voice of a person.
"Not particularly. Also, it wasn't me that caused this either. It was the Lord of Genesis." A male voice that sounded very odd in this kind of circumstances was heard. That was because it sounded oddly carefree, as if not particularly caring about the destruction and death around him.
"You bastard, that is because you refuse to die like a cockroach!" An angry booming male voice was directed at the person who spoke before. There was also desperation and fear mixed with the anger.
The man, to whom this shout was directed at, just snorted.
"Then why did you attack the Lowsworth Duchy, if not for massacring these innocent people?" The woman asked him.
"Don't pretend to care about other people now. Are you going to have that mask on even until the end of your life?" The man mockingly stated. "That was mainly because of you two, the Lord of Genesis and the Mother of Magic. It's been too boring since the war between the Gredia Empire and the Kingdom of Ezoviel. I was just thinking what to do, when you two send someone to monitor me. I don't care about your reason. To me that seems like you had bad intentions towards me. So, of course, I accepted your invitation and came to pay you a visit."
Ayla knew who the Lord of Genesis and the Mother of Magic were. She really wanted to see who the lunatic talking was. But unfortunately, the young woman couldn't. So she abandoned that thought for now.
She also noticed something very concerning in his statement just now, but for now she just focused on the conversation in order to hear every detail.
"...Just for that reason?" There was a pause before the woman, now identified with the moniker Mother of Magic, who as Ayla suspected was not as young as she sounded, uttered in shock.
"You indeed fit your nickname, Overlord of Madness." The Lord of Genesis exclaimed after her.
"Stop calling me that nickname, it's embarrassing. I'm not like you ancient fossils who have lived too long for your own good and take pride in those titles that sound like a kid in 5th grade came up with them." The supposed Overlord of Madness said, his voice turning completely serious.
"..." There was silence for a few seconds.
"Anyways, what do you mean just for that reason? Let me ask you this, what is the most important thing to a human, no, a person at all?"
"...Where are you going with this, you bastard?" The Lord of Genesis asked.
"Just answer." The man curtly replied.
"...You son of a bitch!" The Lord of Genesis shouted angrily from being dismissed like that. "Family, friends, love and a purpose, maybe?" But he still answered, albeit somewhat hesitantly.
"Freedom." Stated the Mother of Magic, seemingly absolutely confident in her answer.
"Well, both of you could be right, but it can be summed up more generally. The thing people desire the most is happiness. Everything they do is for their own happiness and self-satisfaction. There is nothing like being selfless or helping others for the sake of it. You are being selfless, because that brings happiness to you. I, as a human, am the same. I strive to obtain happiness. So what if my happiness is seeking escape out this painful boredom? So what if my happiness results in the misery of others? That has always been the case in this world. The happiness of someone is the misery of others. Does that mean that no one deserves happiness? Does that mean that I do not deserve happiness? Of course not!"
Ayla realized why he was given the nickname 'Overlord of Madness'. There was no better way to describe him than madness and insanity. She had to definitely stop his rise!
"...Your insanity runs even deeper than I thought. Was this the result of Count Achlys' treatment of you or not, one thing is clear: This will definitely result in your demise sooner or later!" The woman said, sounding angry and frustrated.
"Haha, that is pretty funny coming from someone with one foot in the grave. Well, I entertained your curiosity before death long enough. Today ends your legend!" The man said, with his voice finally gaining emotion. It was excitement.
"I wonder if you have other trump cards you can play. If you do, please do so. It will be really miserable if you don't do everything you can before you die. Entertain me to your best ability!" He shouted and the screams and scenery from before came back.
In the center was a dark-haired handsome man with pitch black eyes, appearing to be somewhere in his twenties. He wore a black military uniform and she could make out a black shirt underneath as his two uppermost buttons were left unbuttoned. He wore fingerless black gloves and leather boots which reached a little below his knees.
He looked unperturbed by the chaos around him and even despite the blood and filth that was everywhere, his clothes were pristine clear.
He was holding a red sword in his hands. This sword has a blade with a crest engraved on it. Its grip is formed like a dragon with diamonds for eyes. He leaped forward towards a man and a woman, who were drenched in blood.
Ayla committed his appearance in her mind as everything faded to black once again.