“If I could change the hearts of others,” Gaius muttered, “I wouldn’t have been this…miserable.”

Demon Sovereign Asteria looked at him. “I think we can all say that. But diversity in thought is what gives life brilliance too. If we can mould others the way we want to and shape the world however we please, is there truly any purpose in life?”

“This diversity you speak of…it’s a cause of many conflicts.” Gaius shook his head. “In wealth. In mindset. In priorities. In attitudes. Your nation is under attack by those who saw difference and feared it, but you continue to affirm it? If you could change the hearts of your people, this war would have been over.”

“That’s what the Human God tried to do,” Asteria replied. “He tried to repress it, and see where it got him.”

“Don’t you know that I was the one who killed the Human God?” Gaius replied.

The Demon Sovereign froze for a moment. “So it seems. But you’ve said it yourself. Diversity is a cause of conflict. Even if the Five Lands win and the demons are all brutally massacred, the day will come when these nations turn their blades upon each other once more. Orb has seen too much war, too much violence. Entire industries have been repurposed for the sole purpose of killing.”

He gestured at the black dome. “Outside the Wildlands, massive Locomotives lie ready and waiting. A single one is of great value, yet thirty-three of them, each capable of laying waste to a nation on its own, have been built. Such machines of war…nations with such a weapon would rather impose peace by neutering every other nation.”

“The North has no—”

“It’s naïve to believe that. This whole war is driven by both fear and greed,” Asteria replied. “It is the height of foolishness to assume that even the Mortal Light Dynasty is immune to such influences. People do not rule alone. Even if its current ruler does not want war…there are always others that do.”

“You’re saying that my efforts are useless, then.” Gaius closed his eyes for a moment. “Even if I minimise conflict here, even if I provide a shared target…everything’s meaningless?”

“Yes.”

Gaius could feel it. Even though the Demon Sovereign was his foe here, Gaius could sense that he was sincere. He had a motive, true, but lies weren’t the only thing that could change one’s thoughts.

Simply telling the truth could do that too.

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Was that what Gaius would call manipulation? No. It wasn’t. He didn’t know it was possible, but the Demon Sovereign’s words had somehow swayed him. His actions were indeed pointless. The scale was too small, their impact too pathetic. Saving people right now would just make the War Council think that their strategy was working. He would just prolong their suffering.

If he had to change people’s hearts, he had to change the world first.

“Change the world…” Gaius let out a small chuckle, but the world seemed all the darker for it. “I see.”

“Demigod Gaius…that’s you, right?” Demon Sovereign Asteria addressed him by name. “Lost Star. They say you came from Earth.”

“What of it?”

“I have an offer to make,” he replied. “If I’m not wrong, you desire a peaceful world for the sake of your loved ones. The Five Lands cannot provide that world, but under my rule, that’s not impossible. Bring them over to the Wildlands. This war will be the last of its kind for my nation. There will be peace, now and forevermore.”

“That’s a very tempting option,” Gaius replied, staring at his two weapons. “And…your words ring true.”

“I have always been a sincere person.” The Demon Sovereign smiled faintly. “Why tie yourself down with wishful dreams like this, when there’s already a utopia present? Your family will be safe here. They will be able to lead a normal life, free from the insanity of the Five Lands. Isn’t that good?”

“Yes, it is.” Gaius swept his gaze at the assembled army of semi-divinities, but there was something holding him back from accepting the Demon Sovereign’s offer, despite his instinct telling him that Asteria was truly sincere. “However, I cannot do that. I can tell that you’re sincere, but...”

All kinds of scenes flashed through his mind. The mutiny, where Knights were executing their weaker subordinates for attempting to desert. The little altercations he saw every single day, whenever people from two different nations met. The burning vengeance in the hearts of the beastfolk.

The Demon Sovereign’s promise of peace was premised on the absence of things like greed and fear, but a simple look at the assembled army behind him rebutted that premise thoroughly. The demons were no different from humans and beastfolk, for better or worse.

Divisions were still present.

These divisions are made so much worse because people can amass great individual power. You have seen it for yourself. Strength is the reason why people are so disconnected from others. Mortals are like dust…

Oculus’ words echoed in his mind. These words made sense too. The little eyeball clearly agreed with the Demon Sovereign, but again, Oculus was meant to be a spiritual guide, if nothing else. It was natural that he would have such an enlightened view too.

“So, this is the end of my endless dream,” Gaius muttered. “How foolish.”

“I didn’t mean—”

Gaius waved his hand, cutting the Demon Sovereign off. “Your peace is infinitely more rewarding than mine, which is but a childish delusion. You shall have it. But…”

“But?”

“A request. My last one.” Golden light flashed, and the Custodian vanished. “Fight me. Prove to me that you have the strength to protect your peace, and I shall stand aside.”

“Do you intend to kill yourself?”

“I know this request sounds stupid. But until I dispel the notion that my individual power alone can change things…” Gaius pointed the Terminus at the Demon Sovereign. “Fight me. With all your subordinates.”

An odd light appeared in Asteria’s eyes. Was it pity? Gaius didn’t know, not with the awful emptiness in his chest.

“Very well.”

Gaius smiled. “Let’s begin, then.”