Bearwig disappeared into the building, and I could tell that was the signal for hostilities to begin. The Man House was starting to burst into action, and I hesitated for only a second as to whether we should engage with them now, within their own building, or later once they come out into the open courtyard.

I decided on now.

Our faction quickly moved according to my instructions, and within seconds we were streaming through the front door. Halbert was in the lead, as the strongest singular fighter of us all, while I trailed only a little bit farther behind, sandwiched between guards.

Scouts immediately spread out from our position, and people like Darci also aided in the scouting efforts from deep within our formation. It didn't take long until the first enemies made themselves known, and they streamed from all sides. Instead of regrouping into a coherent force, they simply reacted to our charge.

Just as planned.

I reached for my magic, and began conjuring illusions. Symbols and arrows came to life, borne of different colors, and my army reacted to my directions. They were ready before the enemies came into view, and projectiles immediately shot towards our foes. That alone already downed a lot of the approaching people, but there were still those that managed to close the distance. Those more outstanding opponents were then faced with an indomitable wall, for our tanks were ready to welcome them, and the enemy quickly found themselves unable to advance any longer. They were picked off with still no casualties on our side.

The battle continued like this, as we made our way towards the stairs. The enemies coming for us were already thinning out in number. It was no surprise really, for everything was understaffed. They were so eager to expand, that even their headquarters were not spared from the incompetence.

About half of them we managed to take in as prisoners when they surrendered. We had a few people specialized in non-lethal takedowns like putting enemies to sleep, and other similar abilities. Gerald oversaw those operations, for he could tell if someone was faking it.

Bearwig descended, just as we reached the stairs leading up. We were already in position, and Darci confirmed that their group of barely a dozen were the last of our enemies.

Bearwig looked down imperiously at our group, his face an irritating mixture of arrogance, contempt… and approval? Respect? I didn't get what I was seeing, so I just ignored it. It'd be great if he surrendered, but something tells me that's out of the question.

Still, it wouldn't hurt to try. It would only make me look good, actually.

"Bearwig! It's over. I know you tried… but you're just not the right man for the job."

"Hmph." He scoffed. "You haven't won yet. I'll admit that your underhanded efforts have put me in quite a bind, but that shall only be the first of many challenges that I shall face, in my quest to unite the whole of earth."

I raised a brow. "The whole of Earth? Wasn't it just the US before?"

He shrugged. "The world needs a leader. It needs a strong man at the helm."

I sneered. "Too bad you're weak."

That was something that maybe I shouldn't have said, in hindsight. But it was such a perfect setup, and it didn't seem like Bearwig would allow himself to be convinced anyway, so I just couldn't resist the taunt!

Predictably, that sent him into a frenzy, and he quickly shouted a charge. His muscles bulged as he came, and a weird red aura spread to everyone around him. It was an AOE buff, a decent one, but…

They were way too low level. Most of the people here were of the council, and while some of them did go out to fight, including Bearwig himself… at least half never bothered, hiding behind their position while everyone else risked themselves.

The dozen enemies were thus quickly cut in half by our first volley, and the rest were stopped by our shield wall. There was one spellcaster at the back, but he too fell when someone suddenly assassinated him from behind. We had them surrounded from the start, by people who took a different entry route.

Bearwig himself was quite a bit stronger than normal, so he managed to knock aside some of our frontline, but thankfully my illusions saved us from having to sustain casualties. He didn't get any more chances to wreak havoc amongst our ranks, for Halbert had arrived to do battle with the man.

My friend was fast, he was too nimble to be caught by the enemy leader. The few grazes he suffered were quickly healed, as he had just recently reached Level 50, and obtained a second Class. His injuries were temporary, meanwhile the enemy was quickly being spent.

Bearwig was put on the ropes, and my army never stopped pelting him with attacks even when he was already at a disadvantage 1 on 1. Halbert was ultimately the one to finish the battle, as his empowered punches tore through the other man's flesh. The combination of raw muscle, and the ever-present force of air.

Bearwig crumpled, he fell to his knees. His face was bloody, and the flesh where his heart should be was raptured and broken.

He was the only one left, on their side, and his fall sent a wave of silence across the crowd. I felt Darci's hand on my back, and she nodded at me. My friend pushed me forward, and I let myself be carried to my foe.

"It's…" for once, I was at a lost for words. I had killed people, I was responsible for a lot of death. I told myself it was for the best, and I truly believe that still. But who should I be right now? What kind of heroine is expected upon my shoulders?

Bearwig choked out a pained laugh. "You've bested me. I was indeed… weak."

I chose to be genuine, here and now. So I shrugged.

"Define weak? You'd probably beat me 1 on 1 very easily."

"Hmm. True. And yet… here I am… about to die… while you're about… to live."

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

He looked at me, the light in his eyes fading. His voice was getting weaker and more faint. And yet there was still a glint of hope in his gaze.

"My dream… what needs to be done… Do it. The world… needs a leader…"

"Meh." I shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe someday. But really… I just want everyone here to live. I want everyone to be happy. I don't want my people to burn away and die. And in your haste to save the world, you have done the opposite. You've neglected to save those who were actually within your reach. You have chased for the future, while sacrificing all that is in the present."

I looked into his dying eyes. "That is why you had to die. And your dream dies with you." Just think of the logistics for running the entire world. Fuck that. I'm already regretting running this single settlement, for one! It's too much work. When will I ever get to the point where I can do my solo performance of an entire play!?

"I see…" Bearwig seemed to see through all of the words I've said, and those that remained unsaid, in his final moments.

And then he died.

~~~

We won, and I announced our victory. A proclamation that had to be repeated multiple times as the scattered groups returned at separate times. There were protests, of course, but much of the crowd that remained were already on our side. Even the enforcers were torn, and we had a decent support base from their group, thanks in part to myself having been an enforcer just prior. The generals were the most attached to the way things were.

Not that it mattered much, they could see the writing on the wall, and for all that I complain about how stupid and short-sighted they were, the generals were cognizant enough to see that.

Well, most of them, anyway.

"You bitch!" Roler shouted, as the rest of his team began edging away from the man. "I gave you a place, and this is how you repay me!?"

What place? I was genuinely confused. This fucker had been taking the credit for my work the entire time, and now he's fucking complaining? Why, I oughtta–!

"Come down here and face me! If you're so mighty, then how about you put your tits where your mouth is huh!?"

–Hmm. I thought over the proposal. I have seldom seen Roler actually fight, albeit I knew he was only a third of my Level at 20. Still, he's a warrior, and while I am confident, there's no need to take the risk.

At least, not at his playing field.

"I'm a leader, Roler. Unlike you. What use would a duel be, to determine who's smarter, and more fit for command?"

"Excuses! You're dodging the issue! You need to be strong in order to lead, obviously, titface!"

Titface…? Okay. Ignoring that…

"Oh? Strong, eh? And have you ever been strong in our missions?"

He frowned. "Of course I have–!"

"Let us ask our audience, shall we?" My voice cut him off, it rang through the entire area, courtesy of Zell. Someone with that ability among my subordinates. Fuck. I shouldn't enjoy the idea of having subordinates. But I do.

There was silence for a beat, until someone finally spoke up. The dam gates were opened, and Roler was a specially hated General.

"All he knows is how to charge forward! And he can't even lead it himself!"

"He cowers under the protection of everyone else! All the while mouthing off like a dumbass!"

"HE HAS A SMALL PENIS!"

"I lost my arm because of him!"

"My brother would still be alive if he didn't order him to kill a Level 80 with only a small team!"

"Why didn't hhe do it himself if he's so tough!?"

"He's only Level 20! What's strong about that!?"

"Booooo!"

The crowd devolved into jeering and booing, and I allowed myself a laugh. Roler was not quite as amused, because he has no sense of humor.

"Enough!" He shouted. But it was to no avail.

"Eat shit!"

"I fucked your mom!"

"I fucked his dad!"

"Donkey!"

"You lost to a baby!"

"You look like a deflated ape!"

"Boooooo!!!"

"Kill yourself!"

Roler was ridiculed and shamed no matter what he did. The crowd grew increasingly frantic and hostile. I figured it to be the best time to interject and throw an olive branch. Or at least, what appears to be one.

"Ahem." I fake-coughed, and that sound was transmitted to everyone. People began growing quiet, a wave that spread as they poked those beside them to also shut up. "A solid reception, Roler." I couldn't resist the taunt. "However, I do hear your concerns, and I know that there are those who may think the same."

"That's right! You killed Bearwig! Everyone! You are a terrorist!"

At his rebuttal, the crowd started to grow restless once more, but I quited them down with a gesture of my hand, magnified by a few select illusions.

"It is fine." I intoned. "I hear you. And yet your ideas are as imbecilic as to be expected." I barreled through what would have been his response. "Therefore, I have a suggestion."

I smiled and accentuated my expression.

"What is necessary for a leader is to lead. And you are right in that with the current crisis, that would include a lot of physical and violent conflict. But a one on one battle wouldn't really showcase the skills that are necessary of a leader. Therefore! I propose this!"

"Party vs Party. Squad vs Squad. A maximum of 10 people. We'll have a mock battle of those opposing forces. To decide once and for all, which of us is a better leader. Now, what say you, Roler?"

My counter challenge was met with silence, even from Roler himself. Everyone awaited his response, a palpable pressure for him to either accept or yield. No in-between

"Fine." He ground out. And then we began putting together my own teams.

Mine was already picked from the start, so I instead watched my to-be opponent with increasing amusement. Roler announced his opposition to myself, and people looked away. He tried to solicit specific persons, but they too dodged his persuasions. Even those who I knew opposed me did not go along with him, for they knew they would lose. Roler grew increasingly desperate, but no one was willing to humor him.

He stood in front of my dais in the end, a defeated and frustrated look on his face.

"No one will team up with me." He said, as if it were somehow my problem.

"And?" Our whole conversation was now being broadcast, as per my instructions.

"And!? The challenge can't go on like this! I don't have a team!"

I chuckled. "On the contrary, I do believe the challenge has gone on, and has completed."

"Huh? What the fuck are you one about!?"

"Well… It is an important skill for a leader to be able to rally people under their banner. Do you not agree?"

"Why you!!" I felt power gather up in him, and I stepped back, my true position obscured from the start, and Halbert ready to intervene.

Roler's aggression fizzled out, at least the parts that would've led to outright violence.

"We need a different challenge." He finally ground out.

"Oh? Do we now?" I asked, amused.

"Yes! I still don't accept you! You have not defeated and shown me that you can actually lead!"

I've shown you that time and time again when I was the one actually calling the shots and you were only the messenger you little piece of shit…!

I let the frustration wash over me. I was already at an advantage, and I'd only hurt myself if I lost my cool here. "If you still wish to think of the prior challenge as unconcluded, then you may." I said, at the same time that my team stepped up, looming over Roler. "We can still fight, if that is truly what you wish…"

"Wha… That's not fair!"

"We both gathered our own teams. You failed at the first step. Your incompetence is not my problem. And the monsters out there care not for your fairness."

Roler gritted his teeth. He just stood there for a while, as people became increasingly confused.

"I don't accept this." He finally muttered. "Bearwig was a good and kind leader. And you killed him!"

Well. I'll admit he wasn't quite as pathetic as you. We only had some… disagreements.

"Then go." I commanded. "If you disapprove so much, then you are free to leave."

Roler's temper flared up, and he ended up agreeing without really thinking it over. "Fine! I will! I'd rather face the apocalypse myself than live in this tyranny!"

Ah. So you're killing yourself then. There's no way you'd actually survive.

Good riddance.

I allowed myself a small smile, as I sweated internally. Shit. Now I'm really in charge. Of all these people. And many more.

This is not going to be fun.