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—he 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—greater than all the Gods—that 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?”