The demon king Yama
"Our forces at the border are weakening, we desperately need to send more troops." One of the advisors said.
"What do you suggest then? We desperately lack manpower as it is, where can we find more men?" I asked, sitting on my black throne in a huge, dimly lit chamber in my castle.
"We have no choice, we have to conscript more people that work the fields." The same advisor said.
"Nonsense! We are at peak harvest season." Another advisor shouted. "If we send the farmers to war, what will happen to the crops? If we do not take care of the harvest immediately, the sand worms will devour everything that we've worked so hard to raise."
"There will be no need for food if we lose the war!" The first shouted.
"And what will we feed the army without food?" The second countered.
"Don't you understand that taking victory by any cost necessary is our top priority?"
"What good will a hollow victory be if all that it brings is a massive famine? We'll turn on each other by the time the war with those humans ends!"
"Why you…"
"Enough!" I shouted, my voice hollow, yet resolute. The advisors stopped their bickering. "We have to find a way to bolster our military might without taking people away from the farms…"
"That's wishful thinking, your highness." The first advisor said. "In an ideal world, that would be possible, but us - demons, while far more powerful than those humans, unfortunately lack their numbers. There's no other way, but to sacrifice this year's harvest."
"Nonsense! There's no way we could do that!" The other shouted. "Just imagine…"
"Stop your bickering at once." I said. "Both problems are equally pressing and if you can't think of a way to solve both, I don't need your advice. You both may go now." The two advisors looked at one another, then gave me a deep bow and left the room.
"I sighed and turned to my only friend - a demon with porcelain white skin contrasted by two black lines going down from his eyes over his cheeks and black horns. "What am I supposed to do now, Belial?"
The man bowed. "You are the demon king - the strongest one of us, if you can't think of a way out, then who can."
What flawed thinking… How does strength equate to being a good king? But, I guess, I can't complain, it's my strength that gave me a chance to become the king in the first place and get the revenge that I so deeply craved.
"Hey, Belial, will you stay by my side no matter what? Just as you've stayed by me for all those years."
"Of course, my king, I am yours to command." The man answered.
"What if I lose the throne? What if someone stronger appeared?"
A slight pause. "There's no one stronger than you in the world, rest assured of that, your grace."
"Huh… I hope that you're right." I looked at Belial once more. He wasn't always as devoted to me as he is now, in fact at one point we were sworn enemies. Both of us are sons of the former demon king, making us half brothers (the demon king had many mistresses). Belial was the one with the highest potential to succeed our father - his 'S' class mana capacity put him a cut above the rest and he was showered with praise from a young age, making him an insufferable brat, that looked down on everyone else including me - a mere 'B' class.
Since Belial was such a formidable contender for the throne, the former king, in hopes of keeping the throne in the family, showered him with resources and love, elevating him above the rest. Belial's mother was also rewarded handsomely for giving birth to an heir, while me and my mother were shunned.
Over time, I developed a deep hatred towards my father and Belial and a desire to surpass the two of them. With my limited mana, the only way for me to surpass them was by honing my skills and acquiring new ones. The training I went through was brutal, but I did it all for my mother and out of hatred for my father that ignored my very existence.
I trained and fought, then trained more and fought again pushing my body to the brink. At first everyone laughed at me, how could a mere 'B' class ever hope to reach the throne, they asked, but I never listened. After defeating all of my brothers, sisters and other possible candidates from other prominent families, Belial was the only one that stood in my way towards my goal of fighting father.
The battle was brutal, but I came out on top. I won a fight that everyone said I'd lose, proving my right to challenge the throne. Belial's demeanor, after being defeated by me, completely changed. The arrogant man that looked down on everyone around him, lowered his head and swore his loyalty to me. From that day, he's been serving me with complete devotion. After becoming the new king, I appointed him as the prime minister - my right hand man. That was a position fitting of his loyalty.
The fight against my father was on another scale compared to any fight that I had fought before. His power was overwhelming, he struck to kill, as dictated in tradition, the fight for the throne always ended in a death. It wasn't wise to leave a challenger alive after defeating him, since he could grow stronger and defeat you another time. I was prepared for death and I was prepared to kill, there was nothing that could stop me, I fought and fought until the old man finally crumbled.
When I approached him, all battered and bruised, but still holding the fire in my eyes, to strike the final blow, he smiled and said four words that I was so desperate to hear from his lips for so long. He didn't beg for mercy, he wasn't angry, he just said that he was proud of me. For the first time in my life, I felt complete, I felt such joy, such peace, I hesitated, not wanting to end his life, thinking about how we could rule together. I retracted my sword from his throat, just to see Belial strike the finishing blow.
"A new king is born!" He shouted. "All hail king Yama!" The people around me took a knee, neither Belial, nor my mother, nor any one of my allies were an exception. All knelt and gave their respects to me. The power, the authority I felt, these feelings that I never had were overwhelming, I believed that I would be the one, the one to end the meaningless war that raged for as long as us - demons walked the land. I wanted to complete this holy task, to prove to all that trusted and put their hopes on me that I was worth it.
Over the years as the demon king, I've built up a loyal following that respected me for more than only my strength, I was sure that these people would follow me to the ends of the earth and that with their help, I'd finish this war bringing peace and prosperity to the whole demon race.
My thoughts were interrupted by a series of loud bangs and a servant barging in. "Your highness, we're under attack."
"What happened?" Belial shouted. "Report immediately who would be so bold to attack the demon king's castle."
"I don't know, sir, a man of unknown origin and his possie just barged through the gate demanding a duel of succession with the king. When we refused, saying that he first had to prove his worth, he became angry and started beating everyone he saw, saying that he'd do that right now." A loud bang was heard, as the giant doors of the chamber shattered into a million pieces.
A man wearing a white mask entered followed by five girls. He looked around and asked. "Which one of you, schmucks, is the demon king that I'm going to pummel to the ground?"
"How dare you just barge in here and show such disrespect?!" Belial asked, gripping the hilt of his sword.
"Are you the demon king?" The man asked.
"No, I am the…"
"Then shut up, I'm not interested in small fry." The man interrupted.
"This brassiness will not go unpunished!" Belial shouted and charged at the man just to be stopped by a single word from one of the women standing behind the man.
"KNEEL." The woman with pink hair said with a commanding voice. Belial was forced to the ground, unable to move. Hard hypnosis? These people aren't simple to bring down an 'S' class down with a single word… I thought. The woman walked to the front and said. "Master clearly said that he wasn't interested in small fry, know your place or I won't be this gentle next time." She released her spell, Belial was able to move again. He stood up and walked to the side, giving the newcomers way.
The man wearing a white mask addressed me. "You're sitting on my throne, so that probably means that you're the current king, am I right?"
"And what if I am?" I asked. "If you wish to challenge me, there are rules, you have to prove your worth."
"And how do I do that?"
"You must prove your worth by defeating all other candidates or achieving a feat worthy of a king like slaying a dragon or destroying an army single handedly." I answered.
"Does taming a dragon work for you?"
"Yes, but you'll have to…" I wasn't able to finish my sentence when the pink haired girl transformed into the form of a dragon.
"This is Pain - my Greater dragon subordinate." The man said. "I have one more if this one isn't enough…"
"N-no, that's quite alright." Two Grater dragons as subordinates? This tamer is indeed powerful, can I do this? I stood up and walked onto the stone platform in the middle of the room. "This here is the platform of succession." I said. "Two people enter, only the king leaves - those are the rules." The man got onto the platform as well. "Are you ready?" I asked.
"I don't need to get ready to deal with a mere 'B'..." He wasn't able to finish, as I dashed to him and pierced his chest with my sword.
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