《I Am The Devil》


 Prologue: I Am The Devil

    Everybody has dreams, or more accurately, fancies, like even dreaming or, worse, believing that we are God. Religiously speaking, that is prohibited because it is sinful even to consider it; nonetheless, everyone is free to follow their own religion. We all have the right to our own thoughts and behaviors, whether they are good or harmful, yet there are always consequences for our decisions and acts.


    Everyone who is alive will ultimately die, and according to most religions, this isn''t the end of life as we know it. There¡¯s the concept of the afterlife, or life that continues after we die. And there are only ever two possible places for you to go in the afterlife: paradise or a scorching hot, miserable realm. Of course, we will all select paradise because it is thought that there, everyone is content and the alternative is a place of perpetual punishment.


    And then there are the atheists, or those who do not identify with a particular religion or belief system. They tend to be those who believe that religions are nothing more than myths and legends that science cannot support because there is little or no evidence for them.


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    However, in my situation, I no longer have any doubts about such a thinking.


    The embodiment of evil, the Devil, is who I have become. a representation of wickedness. Often referred to as the charming figure that deceives others into committing sins. A serpent, a monster and a man.


    ¡­


    I''m a young man of 18, and I was going to start college the following month when I suddenly passed out. Then I woke up in the pitch-blackness, which made it appear as though I was asleep but was actually not.


    Surprisingly, I wasn''t shocked. Then came a fading murmur that was low but resonant: ¡°For you have turned into the Devil; your only task is to corrupt humanity.¡±


    For some reason, even though I find it difficult to understand, it suddenly made sense to me.


    The Devil is who I am. I am the Devil.

 Chapter 1: Misery yet persists despite the beauty of the setting

    My eyes suddenly began to fill with a dazzling flash of light. Then, as the dazzling flash gradually fades away, a green landscape gently emerges from my field of vision. It''s gorgeous. The surrounding landscape, which included rolling hills, lush trees, waving grasses, and an expanse of vibrant blue skies with clouds spread all about, as well as the wind''s lovely blowing.


    This place is a true heaven for it appears like it has been well-kept and is quite serene.


    Then, I had an idea that all men would likewise have: I should explore.


    I was completely undressed and without any clothing for some reason. It feels both pleasant and bad to move around on grass. Even when it was rocky or filthy, it still feels wonderful because it tickles and makes me feel like I''ve attained freedom.


    The aroma of blooms and the soft rustling of leaves filled the cool air. I was struck by how peaceful everything was as I made my first steps.


    I''ve been moving around for a while, discovering new things, and taking in the beautiful scenery all around me. This is arguably the loveliest present anyone could possibly have, and I kind of agree.


    Misery yet persists despite the beauty of the setting. There will always be darkness in the presence of light. There remains evil in the presence of goodness. Since that is how the world functions, there will always be another side.


    This picture-perfect setting quickly began to have a sinister dissonance. A reddish-black cloud in the distance cast a shadowy line across the horizon, standing out sharply against the calm blue sky. It was as though a small piece of chaos had crept into this haven.


    I was astounded to see how such a wonderful location could be overtaken by a terrifying view. The commotion that was, I suppose, going on wherever it was originating from made my heart race. I have no idea what is going on there and am unable to make an exact approximation, but turmoil exists. It was disturbing to see the serene beauty contrasted with the approaching darkness.


    Such a scene attracted me despite being frightening. It seems as though whatever this occurrence is, my presence is bound up with it. It seems fated for me to travel there and see it for myself.


    In an effort to get to the source of the darkness, I ran as quickly as I could. Even though it is windy, and I am completely naked, for whatever reason I don''t feel cold.


    The verdant environment began to disappear as I drew near, making way for a desolate landscape. I reached a vantage point from where I could see a bustling city located at the foot of a huge mountain, nay. An active volcano. Its soaring pinnacle burst in a chaotic cloud of ashes, debris, and scorching embers that painted the sky in colors of gloom.


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    People ran in a hurry, anxiously looking for cover from the approaching tragedy, sending shockwaves of panic and horror across the streets. The chorus of cries, wails, and prayers created an eerie symphony that illustrated how helpless humans are in the midst of nature''s wrath.


    I was greeted with terrified glances and eyes that mixed agony and desperation once I arrived and ventured out into the streets in the thick of this calamity. And for whatever reason, I was able to grasp the magnitude of their fear at this very moment and how helpless they felt in the face of the volcano''s wrath.


    I was anxious and afraid of what was happening to me, but I also felt fantastic. I look into each of their eyes as they flee from fear, curious to see how I can read their innermost feelings. It''s amazing... Suddenly, a sinister realization hit me. I, the Devil, deliver temptation and deception. My purpose as the Devil is to mislead people and plant the seeds of evil in the minds of the weak and defenseless. I am the Devil, after all. I am lucky today, no doubt about it. I have the chance to deceive everyone in the midst of the pandemonium at precisely the time when they are experiencing their greatest fear.


    Adrian chuckled and mumbled, ¡°Ha...Haha,¡± and then added, ¡°Well... It''s time for their end.¡±


    Adrian''s lips curved into a menacing grin, reflecting the darkness that suddenly surrounded his goal. He whispered ideas of forsaking principles and savoring momentary pleasures in the midst of oncoming disaster with a glimmer of influence. He stoked the coals of self-indulgence and selfishness by igniting passions that had remained dormant within them.


    Adrian''s eyes spotted someone fleeing for his life in the midst of this conflagration as he darted through the mayhem. Fear could be seen on the man''s distorted face, and his frenzied footfall against the battered ground were like drums. His seeming desperation was what caught Adrian''s attention by the way his apparent desperation was written all over his face.


    ¡°H-Hey! Remove your hands from me!¡±, declared the person who Adrian had grabbed.


    The moment he saw Adrian''s face, the man stopped talking. He didn''t notice any horns or grooves on his head, but what he did see was far more foreboding¡ªa pit of gloom, a chasm of darkness that seemed to snuff out all light. Adrian seemed to radiate terror from his very core.


    The man''s heart pounded in his chest, not solely because of the volcanic eruption that pursued him but also because of the unnerving presence before him. His wide eyes were fixed on Adrian''s gaze as he came to a stop, and it appeared as though Adrian''s gaze was piercing right through him.


    ¡°Say, what do you want?¡± Adrian¡¯s whisper, smooth as a serpent¡¯s whisper broke the silence along with his eerie smile and dilated pupils.


    The man muttered quietly, looking down as he was afraid to look Adrian in the face, ¡°... to live is what I want.¡±


    Adrian''s lips twisted into a cynical grin, but it stopped short of his icy eyes. He pondered "to live," as though thinking about the idea.


    ¡°You must be blind if you think you can survive while such a scene is taking place, how awful.¡± Adrian scoffs as he says to the man, crossing his arms, ¡°Yet I believe death by one''s own hands is considerably less agonizing than to meet your end in the searing grip of hot, burning lava, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Adrian''s statements seemed to cast a shadow over the man, who began to seem more terrified. His awareness slowly grew as he became aware of his situation and the malicious undertone of Adrian''s advice. He had a choice, but it was a choice laced with wicked purpose, offered by the Devil.


    The man''s eyes began to flood with tears as a result of the volcanic ash all around him as well as the utter helplessness of his circumstance. He was caught between Adrian''s frightening presence and the burning mouth of the volcano, a wicked power that appeared to delight in the despair of men.


    The man was faced with making the most important decision of his life at that terrifying time as the eruption roared on and everything fell apart around them. Would he follow the Devil''s terrible suggestion, or would he keep running in an effort to survive? The choices made while the man and those around him were in the grips of fear and despair would determine their futures. The dance of desperation had only just begun.

 Chapter 2: The Emperor and the Devil

    The world was falling apart around him as the man stood on the edge of a choice. His shaking legs were barely holding him up. His thoughts were weighed down by Adrian''s unsettling presence, and the Devil''s words lingered in the background like a foreboding sign.


    ¡°Y-Yes, it sure is,¡± the terrified guy gasped as he responded to Adrian.


    The man was forced to agree since he didn''t want to make a regretful decision by disagreeing. Despite appearing to agree, the man''s expression suggests otherwise. Even though he appears to be in agreement, the man''s expression suggests otherwise.


    In that terrible moment, the man''s survival instincts battled against the need to follow Adrian''s sage but terrible advice. He quickly turned to look back at the relentless force of nature''s wrath that was closing in on him, a raging wave of lava and burning debris that displayed no mercy.


    A flash of a picture, though, immediately entered the man''s head. He appeared to have suddenly emerged from the commotion despite the devastation caused by the volcanic eruption surrounding him. His family''s image, his memories of their jokes, their love for one another, and the dreams and commitments they shared all rushed to the front of his thoughts. Something clicked into the man''s head as he saw their faces, which bore the same horror he was currently experiencing.


    With the two, there was a brief period of silence. Adrian was still there, grinning cynically, and the man was still contemplating something. And all that could be seen around them was the city''s apparent collapse. People crying out, buildings trembling from the volcanic eruption, and people running away from the chaos and destruction can all be heard.


    Unexpectedly, the man walked away from Adrian. Whatever his motive, he had a choice to make¡ªhe could either choose to live or die. Without giving Adrian a glance or saying anything, he walked away from him.


    He stepped back into the chaos, his feet hammering against the burnt ground, his face anxious but also, for some reason, smiling. No words can adequately capture the man''s expression as he sped towards an unknown fate that not even Adrian knows.


    The fact that Adrian performed his job flawlessly for the first time ever, however, is certain. As the smoke crept in, Adrian watched him leave, his sly smirk remaining unwavering.


    Adrian was still there, a lingering shadow of evil amid the catastrophe, as the man vanished into the cloud of smoke and ash. He had set out to test, seduce, and mislead, and in this instant, he had succeeded in doing so, sowing the seeds of dread and hopelessness that would continue to follow the man''s path.


    The volcano continued to erupt; a merciless force of nature unconcerned with human decisions. The man''s destiny was uncertain in the midst of tragedy, and he would continue to face temptation and terror, which would sap his fortitude and put his basic humanity to the test.


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    Thus, amidst the mayhem and devastation, the Devil''s dance of desperation persisted, its ominous tune echoing in the hearts of all who confronted the volcano''s wrath, Vesaevus.


    ..


    From a distance, one can hear footsteps stomping. Reverberating in the palace''s pitch-black halls. There appears to be an urgency due to the loud footsteps. As if there were an emergency. As though a crisis is occurring.


    Only three knocks have been made on a room''s doors, despite the fact that it seems like someone is rushing for something. A pretty large doorway, suggesting that whoever lives there is of a high position.


    ¡°Come on in.¡±


    The individual who appears to have an urgent report was able to enter after hearing a deep, weighty, and resonant voice from inside.


    The man then proceeds to walk while avoiding glancing up at the other man inside the room by lowering his head. He approaches him, who is sitting close to the window, from there. He falls to his knees and bows.


    ¡°Our lord, I''m sure you already know about the disasters all around us. The unexpected eruption of Vesaevus, the tremendous ground trembling, and the quick spread of the plague in Rome. For the time being, I urge you to leave for Hispania in order to at least avoid being affected by these disasters.¡±


    Flee? I will never abandon the people of Rome for they love me. Whatever the Gods may have in store for me after all these disasters is unknown. Are they envious of the fact that I receive so much worship today instead of them? Do they intend to kill me due to the fact that I have accomplished more for the people and the entire world than they have? Or is it that I am so great¡ªgreater than all the Gods¡ªthat I can''t possibly live in this earth because I am so great?


    ¡°Oh, Lord! Please understand that we cannot possibly endanger your life, especially in the face of catastrophes that only give such degrading deaths.¡±


    Such a disgrace this poor being beneath me to offer me to flee so cretins can swoop in and usurp my reign, why?!


    I never will.


    ¡°Silence! Never again will Titus Ilius Lisidio, the supreme emperor of Rome, run for his life when my subjects need me most!¡±


    With no other option and insufficient force to convince the emperor to depart for his life for the time being, the guy quietly left the room. and silently close the door.


    Although the alternative to go away makes some sense, it makes more sense to ignore one''s counsel for no one can predict what men are thinking in this day and age. Even your own blood shouldn''t be trusted as they could be the ones who betray you.


    Sigh¡­


    Haha, how unlucky could I possibly be? Even though I''ve only been in power for a little over two years, it already feels like my time in power may be coming to an end. What did I do wrong when everything I did was for the good of my people and my world?


    He was the only person in the room, so it was quiet. He was sitting next to a window and was gazing out at the vista beyond the windows he was sitting next to. His face creased with worry as he peered out the window and observed the ominous dark sky or fog that seemed to arrive from a distance.


    The dismal shadow of the looming black clouds continued to cover the scene. There was permanent twilight since the sun''s meagre attempts to break through the dense veil were greeted with limited success. He felt uneasy due to the strange color of the skies.


    ¡­


    He abruptly heard a sneer. A scoff of amusement and disappointment.


    ¡°... Your world, you say?¡± A whisper, yet it reverberates around the dimly lit room, originating from the figure of a person sitting on the couch.


    The figure sneered once again. Loudly laughed, creating an echo across the room. It sounds like he''s making fun of the emperor.


    The laughter abruptly halted, followed by a moment of silence. After a strange stillness, he slyly muttered, ¡°Tell me, Titus, what do you desire most?¡±

 Chapter 3: The Two Gods of the World

    [PREVIOUSLY]


    He abruptly heard a sneer. A scoff of amusement and disappointment.


    ¡°... Your world, you say?¡± A whisper, yet it reverberates around the dimly lit room, originating from the figure of a person sitting on the couch.


    The figure sneered once again. Loudly laughed, creating an echo across the room. It sounds like he''s making fun of the emperor.


    The laughter abruptly halted, followed by a moment of silence. After a strange stillness, he slyly muttered, ¡°Tell me, Titus, what do you desire most?¡±


    ¡­


    Although unclear, the question carried a lot of weight. It was a question that went above and beyond the typical objectives of monarchs and rulers. It delved into the human soul to look for any hidden longings or frailties that might be there beneath the veneer of authority.


    ¡°Wh-Who are you to question me?!¡±


    How disrespectful of him to question the supreme ruler. Who does he think he is to barge into my room and hide? Hang on, what is his goal. Is he planning to kill me right here, this very moment?


    Tension filled the space. The emperor, the head of the known world, is terrified but prepared to battle, and the unidentified man in the room is laughing and making fun of the emperor nearly directly in front of him.


    From his silhouette, it appears that the man had an imposing man''s build as he slowly got up from the couch. He then proceeded to walk right up against the emperor.


    Once more, the guy urged, ¡°Come on, tell me, what is it that you truly desire, Titus?" as he placed his face close to the emperor''s ears.¡±


    I felt uneasy after hearing the whisper; it seemed as though my life would be in danger if I didn''t respond to his question. He incites a terror that no man could, or at the very least, no one would do to the emperor, so it was as if I were in the presence of someone otherworldly. Maybe what makes me terrified is that I worry for my life. Should I respond to his question? It would be comparable to bending down to a superior. Never before has my pride been so damaged. Just wait; I will make sure that you are punished for putting me in such a degrading position.


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    The emperor carefully thought through the question he was asked. He was a man who had ascended to the highest echelons of power and influence, having attained remarkable heights. However, he experienced a disconcerting sense of introspection while in the presence of this mysterious individual. The emperor''s body was shivering quite a bit due to the unnerving silence in the room. The emperor''s life would be in danger in this circumstance, but the stability of the empire would also be in jeopardy as internal strife always breaks out when a ruler dies.


    ¡°I want my people to be well,¡± he retorted, ¡°and I want my empire to be thriving and secure.¡± his voice was composed but tinged with a frightened and concerned undertone.


    The individual whose face was obscured by darkness and whose face couldn''t be seen clearly gradually came into the light, revealing his face. His face is stunning, flawless, yet depraved and nasty since it does not resemble the face of a typical guy, but rather the face of a man who appears to take pleasure in the suffering of other people. Despite having an appearance of such quality, people of this sort typically bring turmoil and disaster, inflict the misery of others, and cause suffering to themselves. Because of their fortunate facial features, it prevented people from reading their personality from their actions, thus they would never notice them.


    The man''s slip twisted gradually into a knowing, mocking smirk as his enigmatic face emerged. Their foreheads made contact with one another as his face moved towards Titus'' face. He fixed a staring glance at Titus with eyes as dilated as ever.


    He scoffs, keeping his gaze fixed on Titus, ¡°Noble desires indeed. But do you not also want for something grandiose, perhaps something beyond the limitations of your emperorship?¡±


    Something imposing? I could actually desire something similar. They claim that young men are the most ambitious, yet older men tend to be more so since they have reached an appropriate age but still haven''t reached their objectives. I''ve only been in power for two years, so perhaps I don''t want to go out like the other emperors, who perished from diseases, assassinations, and other causes. Indeed. I want to be in power for as long as possible. Longer even than the great Augustus. to be regarded as a hero and a god.


    Yes. Considering that I have only been in power for a short two years, I made an effort to alter and transform in order to become a smart and compassionate ruler who doesn''t actively seek out conflict or famine. In order to appear intelligent and refrain from using tyranny in my early years of rule, I had prepared for this. To lure people into my plans, I had been merely putting on the appearance of a clever and benevolent man. Even at my worst hours, I want people to stick with me. Even want people to fall with me.


    He proclaimed, ¡°I want to be a God, a saviour,¡± with an expression of ambition that resounded with unflinching resolve. ¡°I desire to be regarded and known as the man who brought the empire to unimaginable greatness, who provided prosperity and salvation to all. I want the admiration and devotion of my people.¡±


    It''s true that I don''t intentionally start wars or start famines. However, doing so will either result in the growth and reach of my empire or its demise. It is an essential sacrifice for such ambitious goals could only be attained through enormous sacrifices. A risk that any monarch had encountered.


    The countenance of the unidentified man then abruptly assumed a serious expression, one that appeared to be either in shock or disappointment.


    ¡°To be God and a Savior¡ªsuch lofty ambitions, Titus.¡±


    Titus trembled more in fear as a result of the unknown man''s frighteningly loud voice.


    ¡°Worry not... I have no plan of harming you.¡± the man said as he turned his face away from Titus, ¡°Tell me, are you prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve such goals?¡± he said as he stepped back and away from Titus, his eyes not flinching.


    Indeed, I do. I have a lot of sacrifices to make considering that I''m the emperor, the most powerful man in the world, and can order any man to do what I like. This emperor title is simply a steppingstone on the path to divinity; I shall surpass it.


    ¡°I''m willing to go to any lengths to achieve my goals¡­¡±


    The mysterious man first maintained a stern face, but his demeanour gradually softened as he grinned.


    ¡°Worry not, you''ll have the Devil by your side.¡±