Miguel stands before the crowd while riding a float, sitting tall and waving his hand.


    Miguel kept on smiling.


    He stood while the float drove into the depths of the Hellish World, only to see markings of the star at the center of the ankh seen painted over in the city walls. Miguel sighs, seeing this.


    “As long as you keep smiling… keep standing… Follow the script… Might ease tensions between the two Quadrants. Just smile… and wave… NO mentions of Prometheus.”


    Miguel smiles, trying to wave to the crowd but sees that they’re in heavy poverty and are practically starving with various Priest-like soldiers patrolling them for crowd control. Miguel looks at the hologram puck and reads it. Words such as “Peace…” “Prosperity…” “Dignity of the Great Prime…” “Chaos is a virtue…” He read each word skimming it. He tosses the cards to the ground. “Prometheus…” he said. “...was a good man. He… was like a father to me… One of the closest things I had to an actual father who tries his best… Who loves and cherishes me… He died… To avoid any of us Aswangs any more suffering. His sacrifice, though done to save me, was done out of love. I will always remember him.”


    Suddenly, a man in the crowd speaks up. “Hocus Pocus. BIBINGKA!!!”


    Cameras immediately turn to him.


    Alters of the Reaper, known as Seedsowers march toward the man as the crowd scamper away from him. The Seedsowers grabs a scythe. The man doesn’t fight back.


    Miguel roars. “LEAVE HIM!!!”


    The soldiers turn to him as Beatle immediately grabs his shoulder.


    Beatle shakes his head.


    Miguel growls. “No… He didn’t do anything… HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!!!” Miguel tries to break free but Beatle just pulls him away.


    “Miguel Azral, folks!” smiled Morningstar Prime, laughing.


    He hammers it into his head, killing him effectively as Miguel is locked inside.


    “Look, dumbass. I know you’re a reality-verified idiot, but listen and listen well. You just got that man killed. He has a family.”


    “I KNOW!!! I DIDN’T MEAN TO-!!!”


    “I know you didn’t but this is a totalitarian… government. These people… For lack of a better term… Idolize Pro like a God. What he did for you stays as that. He loved you. AND ONLY YOU.”


    “You knew what he was fighting for…”


    “And THIS IS NOT THE BEST TIME to tell everyone that! Y’know why your Daddy self is called ‘Reaper?’ HE literally REAPS you. Those are called Seedsowers since they implant FEAR. They only want their families safe just as you do. So, never do that again. If you do, she’ll make you kill one of you. GOT THAT!?!? Right now they’re still figuring out if you’re a diplomat of a martyr. You can’t be both right now. SO PICK ONE. And pick the smart one.”


    “ALL HAIL… MORNINGSTAR!!!” roared the Seedsowers as a man in the crowd is seen with a bomb, running in, and yelling, “Hocus Pocus. BIBINGKA, BITCHES!!!” before blowing up the area and killing the guards.


    Miguel walks out, seeing the carnage, tearing up before removing his jacket, his armor, and just grabs onto the wall. “I HAVE DISGRACED YOU!!!” he roared. “WHIP ME INSTEAD!!! FORTY LASHES!!!” he roared. “DO IT!!! FOR MY WORTH TO THESE PEOPLE IS JUST AS WORTH AS THEIR LIVES!!!”


    The Captain of the Seedsowers smirk, proceeding to grab his Latika and whip him, around forty times, each time more brutal than the last, as his bones break and he bleeds all over his back,


    The people try to help him but Miguel growls.


    “NO!!! Move, AND I’LL KILL YOU MYSELF!!!” he roared.


    Beatle sighs, facepalming and sitting down. “That sure is… a choice…” he sighed.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    They back away, as Miguel is beaten. The fortieth lash comes and Miguel is uncuffed, with the Sowseeder laughing and smiling, pushing him to the ground as he falls to his knees.


    Beatle helps him up and guides him back. “That… was stupid.”


    “I tried fixing it.”


    “You broke the intelligence already. What you did after was even stupider.”


    “I was only trying to help.”


    “HELPING IS KEEPING YOUR HEART SHUT!!! You can’t run that into the blizzard! That is useful, just not now! You’re a leader now and must take decisions! Who gets the last of the food scraps? The starving children you must save, the horse that brings you home, the dying soldier who can save us all, or yourself, who leads the opration!? Who gets the funds!? Tourism budget, school, your own family, or a building that needs way more attention to help the public for the greater good!? And after that, the ones unsatisfied will CALL YOU CORRUPT!!! STUPID!!! They’ll call your neurodivergence. They’ll call you STUPID!!! And every last bit of your Soul begins to abhor these people!!! I saved my world. Great. You’re trying to save the whole Multiverse.”


    “What? You want me to become like you?”


    “I want you to be you. What would Miguel Azral do?”


    “I’d… call my friends.”


    Beatle’s eyes widen.


    “I always do.”


    “You have… real friends in this universe? Ones you trust enough…?”


    Miguel nods.


    Beatle sighs. “Maybe we still have hope after all… Fine. Bring your friends in the next trip.”


    “Beatle. I want to stay home for now.”


    “What don’t you get, kid? This is your life now. Your livelihood. The Multiverse’s well being hangs on a finger gripping onto your throne. You’re all we’ve got.”


    “Why did Prometheus want this for me!?”


    “Because you don’t think like us. Something about you is… different, dangerous, and very, very important. You’re valuable not just to the corporation, but to every living person that existed. Just do as I say. I need you to promise that.”


    Miguel nods subtly.


    Beatle sighs. “What would I do?”


    “I’d do something that hurts ,e.”


    “Prometheus?”


    “I’d do something reckless.”


    “What did you do?”


    “Both.”


    “Okay. What would you do? You got ‘im killed. NO takebacks. What is the idea you got in your gut?”


    Miguel gives a shaky breath. “I’d run headfirst into battle. Which was stupid.”


    “That didn’t work. Treat this like… a fight. Now what?”


    “So, they’re stronger than me… So, I should try to do something insane.”


    “Do it.”


    Miguel walks out of the doors, now fully healed. “HEY!!!”


    The people turn to him.


    Miguel walks up to the Captain of the guards who smirks over confidently.


    “You up for ‘nother?” he smiled, only for Miguel to punch him in the face.


    Miguel smiles. “You insulted me!”


    “YOU BROKE OUR LAW!!!”


    “Yeah? Well so did you… Y’know why?”


    “Speak. Do go on.”


    “Bitch… You just whipped me,” smiled Miguel.


    “You consented.”


    “In exchange for the lives of these people. Dude. I am Maharlica-152’s champion and emperor, graced with the throne,” Miguel pointed proudly, furrowing his eyes.


    “I don’t care who you are. You’re just another me.”


    “Really? Because all I see is an idiotic farmer who just made a mockery of Ms. Prime’s meeting with the esteemed heir to Pro’s throne.” Miguel turns to Morningstar Prime, who, for once, listens intently. “You hear that, Prime? This guy just INSULTED you! You’re really gonna let this guy do that?”


    “I was doing my job.”


    “Did Prime order you to kill anyone who sings that song on sight?”


    “Yes! This morning!”


    “Great! You did your job, right? But then you just beat me up… Do you think that’d make Beatle happy?”


    Morningstar Prime’s eye twitches.


    “Well!?” Miguel smirks, turning to Prime. “Huh… SO, it’s ’pride…’ Hm.” He turns ti the crowd. “Chaos is a virtue. A tradition. Yes. But all I see is a massive insult to Beatle’s visit. I mean… Beatle came here and you just beat his great grandson and protege… And now what? You’re ENJOYING yourself? While Prime just watches this!? I mean, Prime! C’mon, lady! You wouldn’t even allow yourself the satisfaction of the torture and kill in the long run? No? Talk about an ill-prepped dish!”


    “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” asked Prime.


    “Nah. I’m trying to get this guy killed. This man almost took your kill, Prime. He almost did. And you’d just stand there and watch?” asked Miguel, pridefully bouncing like in a boxing match.


    “My Lord. HE’S TROLLING AND MANIPULATING you!!! KILL HIM NOW!!!” roared the guard.


    “That’d make him a martyr. HE’s right. This is the absolutely most atrocious time for you to try that. I hereby decree that you stupid bastards kill IN THE RIGHT TIME,“ growled Morningstar.


    “My Lord, HE IS PLAYING YOU!!!”


    “But he’s right. You dare question my authority?” asked Morningstar.


    The Captain of the Sowseeders bows. “No, my Lord.”


    “Talk for the next hour and I’ll rip your tongue out.”


    Miguel smirks and walks away.


    Morningstar Prime merely says, “Hm… Hey.”


    “What?”


    “Nothing,” she grumbled. “Thank you, kindly, for reminding me of the values of this Hellish system.”


    “You’re welcome!” smiled Miguel.


    “Miguel. You’re… gravely mistaken about one thing, though.”


    “That is…?”


    “I don’t want to kill you. I don’t even want ya dead. What would I DO if you and Beatle were dead!? Go back to a 9 to 5 every week? NO!!! Maybe… Huh… NO!!! No… Miguel''s complete me. You might think that I plan on you dead in the end. No. I plan on keeping this cycle… forever. And you think you just broke it, didn’t you? What makes a nobody like you… AN anomaly that mustn’t and shouldn’t exist.. A mutt… have the right to break it?”


    “Is that a challenge?” Miguel frowned for the first time upon saying that.


    Prime smiled. “Yes.”


    Miguel growls. “Tch-...”


    “Mind you, boy! Let’s call it a draw!” she yelled, as the gates of Hell closed.