Sacrifice was needed to save more humans.


    It always like that. Call it a sacrifice for the masses, but wasn''t sacrifice something you decided on your own? It shouldn''t be imposed on others.


    So what they really meant was... survival of the fittest.


    "READY YOUR WEAPONS!!"


    A ringleader raised his hand, signaling the troops behind him to maintain their position. Troops consisting of fully armored soldiers made them look like riding three-meter tall android robots, along with a wide variety of high-tech military vehicles.


    And the man a hundred meters ahead of them engulfed in a black mist like ink dropped into water, came to a halt, leaving smoke billowing, a ruined building spewing water from its windows, and flying cars hovering in the sky to falling like birds with broken wings that exploded into frenzied flames.


    As though an unseen line had drawn across the charred grounds, the tension in the air between them was oppressive.


    For a time, there was silence... until the ringleader raised his blade, which droned with energy and burned brightly.


    Those in power often trample over the rights of the weak. Those who lack strength would be subjugated.


    "FI—!!"


    Before he could give his full command, a palm had already grabbed his face; palm from that shadowy man engulfed the ringleader''s head entirely, as in the blink of an eye, already in front of the soldiers.


    The dark mist swirled aggressively around their point of contact.


    Such hypocritical behavior from humankind.


    The ringleader was caught in the grip. Struggled yet futilely. His body was brought up in the air. And his sword, once alight with power, fell to the ground with a clatter.


    Its glow extinguished.


    "Phmmm...!!"


    But I also learned about human personalities.


    "CAP... CAPTAIN!!"


    The soldiers tensed.


    Their fingers hovered over triggers and grips tightening on their weapons, but none dared to move against the shadow that loomed before them. All frozen. All of their widened eyes seemed to know... they should never have been here. They shouldn''t have tried to come face-to-face with the figure in front of them. They should evacuate, like everyone else.


    As they knew the massive difference in power.


    I learned about human world.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    The captain''s attempts to break free were cut short as the shadowy figure''s grip tightened. Blood seeped from the seams of his suit, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and disbelief that also slowly oozed a thick red goo.


    "U-Upp...!! Khmmm!! AAGHH!!!"


    I became human.


    Splintered. Shattered. It was all the remains of his body that were destroyed against the backdrop of destruction. And soldiers who witnessed this could only look in horror as their resolve shattered along with the illusion of their safety in numbers. ?


    I couldn''t universally apply sweeping negative statements about humans; vital to take into account the diverse contexts and circumstances of each situation.


    "ALL, OPEN FIREE!!!"


    That agitated scream broke through the silence and stirred all the soldiers from the shock of the captain''s spectacle. They were instantly enraged. Click. Clatter. Their weapons were raised. A barrage of pulse energy, bullets, rays, and light ripped through the air toward a single point.


    All of it struck till it dazzled the city, which had been decimated in the hunger for blood.


    I felt disgusted.


    Of course... it was all for nothing.


    All the attacks pierced his body as if the man''s figure didn''t exist, even though he did. He stood. He was there. Facing them. Those who were one by one continued to cast the large machines.


    Yet, I was also confused.


    Despite the gunfire and explosions, the figure extended his hand to face the sky. The sky that was surrounded by a sphere of void as the dark mist swirled above him. With a mere snap of his fingers, the sphere exploded in a shockwave that swept across the battlefield like a tidal wave.


    Vehicles were overturned. Robots short-circuited and collapsed. Soldiers were thrown back as if they were mere dolls. The ground cracked under the force, and what remained from the surrounding buildings crumbled.


    "AAAHHHHGG!!"


    No matter how hard you want to save them, protect them, or prevent them from making mistakes, humans inevitably suffer.


    There was no doubt whatsoever that this horrific scene was witnessed by people all over the world from drones that kept coming, despite the destruction of the former one due to the man''s impact. Hovering above the battlefield, their cameras zoomed in and out. Viewers watched. Frozen. As the live feed transmitted the destruction that had ignited a wave of fear across the globe.


    "The mysterious man is slaughtering those soldiers..."


    Because humans weren''t designed to be happy.


    Military strategists scrambled for solutions.


    In hidden rooms, world leaders met in emergency sessions. Their faces were grim. The weight of their decisions was heavier than ever. Analysts and academics presented live comments based on what was seen from the drones, speculating on the origins and motivations of this being.


    But no one seemed to understand.


    The reason lay in the fleeting nature of happiness itself.


    Rarity gave it value. When it became easily attainable, its value diminished, eventually becoming meaningless. Thus, it was impossible to halt the cycle of suffering; happiness was only reserved for a fortunate few.


    As the shadowy figure advanced, the drones attempted to capture every detail of this threat. When the night fell, he paused. Head turned as if aware of the world''s eyes on him. For a brief period, it appeared that he would speak, maybe explaining the lingering question: Why?


    Why were we created for, then?


    But no words came.


    The answer was too obvious.


    He just turned and continued on his path.


    One step taken, a street pole collapsed. One step taken, a pseudo-knife seemed to slice through the houses on either side. One step was taken, and screams of those fleeing for safety ruptured their vocal cords as blood flowed forth. To the point one by one, the screens displaying his figure faded away. Disconnected. Gone. Signaling that the man has demolished the said location.


    We were simply a drama created by beings superior to us to observe.


    For that reason, I dismantled this stage play.


    In the vacuum of information, theories were born. Was that man a product of some forbidden experiment gone awry? An entity from another dimension? Or perhaps a manifestation of nature''s wrath?


    You could say I made a biased decision. A selfish one. Or whatever you want to name it. Those wouldn''t change anything.


    I''d made my decision.


    I would bring salvation to you all.


    I, myself, didn''t know why I had to witness this. To see and feel this horror. How hopeless, helpless, humans were.


    However, I knew, that man was—


    After all, I already knew, I just—


    "A monster."