"I saw the way you presented your manifesto at the last presidential campaign, and I must say, Mr. John, you are the best," Steven said, extending his hand for a shake."It's my pleasure, Mr. Steven. We do everything for the people, and I believe if they could give me a chance, I would give them a better life and a better country," John replied with a smile."Of course, what else if not their support," Steven remarked, causing them to all laugh again."So, what brings you to my humble abode?" John asked, leaning back in his chair.Steven cleared his throat, preparing to weave the first thread of deception. "Well, Mr. John, we've been observing the political environment for quite some time now, and we've noticed some concerning trends."James nodded in agreement. "Yes, indeed. There are whispers among the council members about your potential candidacy, and some are expressing doubts about your ability to lead effectively."John furrowed his brows, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. "Is
Back at Aethon's camp…..Aethon burst into the training room, where Royce was training with a soldier. The sound of clashing swords echoed through the room as they displayed their skills with swords, kicks, and fists."We need to talk," Aethon said, interrupting the intense training session. He pulled Royce away from the scene, leaving the other soldier to catch his breath."What's going on?" Royce asked, wiping sweat from his brow as they stepped aside for privacy.Aethon's face was serious as he delivered the shocking news. "The Dark Covenant has invaded Earth," he said seriously."What?!" Royce gasped, his brow furrowing in confusion. "How did they manage that? I thought Grimnar needed me to invade the Earth. How could he bypass me?"Aethon nodded, understanding Royce's confusion. "Yes, he indeed needs you, and he still does. Without you, he can't bring his forces onto the Earth. You're a priest, and only you can help summon the spirits here."He paused, letting the information sin
Royce and Aethon panted heavily as they stopped along the road to catch their breath. "Oh man, wasted effort," Royce exclaimed, noticing that most of the food had spilled out halfway.He salvaged what was left and started munching on it, his face twisting in surprise as he tasted how delicious it was."Can't these restaurants give out free food?" Aethon grumbled as he stood up.Royce shrugged, already starting to walk away. "I trust you'd never give it out for free," he replied with a smirk.As Aethon and Royce strolled down the bustling street, they observed the various buildings around them.Royce pointed to a tall skyscraper and said, "That's the city's main office building. It's where all the important business meetings happen.""Ohhh," Aethon nodded in understanding before pointing to another building. "And what about that one?"Royce explained, "That's the local library. People go there to borrow books and study."Aethon nodded again, showing his interest. "I see. What about tha
The hall was filled with loud, lively music as well-dressed wealthy guests danced gracefully. Men and women paired off, their movements elegant against the backdrop of soft, orchestral sounds."Hey John," a lady greeted John Reynolds warmly as she approached him, holding a glass of wine. She was in her fifties, dressed in luxurious attire that showed she would be very experienced in politics. "Why'd you set up a victory party already? Thought you'd wait to be officially announced the winner."John sighed deeply and turned to her, his arms crossed. "You know, Cynthia, sometimes you celebrate the blessings before they arrive. You don’t always have to wait for confirmation."Cynthia took another sip of her wine, nodding appreciatively at his words. John looked intently into her eyes, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Only losers wait for their blessings to come before celebrating," he declared confidently, then walked away to mingle with other guests.As John talked with other guests
The auditorium was packed with people waiting to hear who would be the next president. Royce and Aethon entered, scanning the room for seats. Every seat was taken, except for two at the front. As they headed towards them, a couple got there first.Just as the couple was about to sit down, Aethon whispered to Royce, "Watch this," and subtly used his magic to slide the chairs back. The couple stumbled, confused, and tried to sit again. Each time they tried, Aethon repeated his trick."Ouch!" the man exclaimed as they fell for the third time, this time hitting the chair back hard."Maybe it's a sign we shouldn't sit here," the woman said, rubbing her back.Groaning in pain, they grabbed their things and hurried away from the seats.Royce chuckled, "Quick thinking, Aethon."They walked over to the now-empty seats and sat down, settling in as the room buzzed with anticipation for the event to begin.Finally, after a long wait where some people started to sleep, the program began. A man wal
Royce looked around and spotted a fire extinguisher hanging on the wall nearby. With determination, he grabbed it, feeling its weight in his hands. As the insects swarmed towards him, he swung the extinguisher, knocking them away one by one. But to his surprise, for every bug he struck down, it seemed two more took its place. Frustration built up inside him as he realized the futility of his efforts.Suddenly, sharp pains shot through his back as some of the insects managed to crawl into his clothing, causing him to cry out in pain. With a grimace, he fought through the discomfort, using the little magic he had gotten from his journey to the immortal realm to push the insects back into the room they had come from.Thinking he was free, Royce reached for a nearby torch, preparing to make his escape. But before he could take more than a few steps, the insects broke through the door with a forceful crash, charging towards him once again.Royce yelled as he ran, torch in hand, down the st
As Lorenz finished his oath, the judge faced the crowd with a formal nod. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the new president of Parkland, Penn Lorenz!"The response was mixed. Some attendees immediately stood up, clapping and cheering loudly. Others remained seated, their faces tight with disapproval, murmuring among themselves and hissing in discontent. Lorenz noticed the divided reaction but simply smiled and shook his head slightly, looking unbotheredAbove the auditorium, fighter jets soared across the sky, flying in tight, precise formations. Their display was followed by bursts of fireworks that lit up the sky, adding a festive note to the formal proceedings inside.Back in the hall, the judge draped a ceremonial sash across Lorenz's shoulders and respectfully bowed his head. "Mr. President, you may now address your people."Stepping up to the microphone with confidence, Lorenz waited as the mic echoed briefly before settling. He looked over the crowd, his expression one
Victor rose from his seat, stretching his hand towards Lorenz in a gesture of congratulations. Lorenz, surprised by Victor's boldness, accepted the handshake, his expression filled with astonishment."Congratulations, Mr. President," Victor began, his voice steady. "Your victory was hard-earned, and the people of Ardolia are so happy and we all congratulate you."As Victor returned to his seat, Lorenz's gaze remained fixed on them. He remained silent, looking at them with disdainAfter a tense moment, Lorenz finally spoke, his voice cutting through the silence. "I didn't ask for your congratulations, nor do I need them. To hell with you and your Ardolia."Victor and Alex exchanged uneasy glances, realizing their lies had been revealed. Lorenz's words cut through the air like a knife, revealing he was aware of their deception all this while."Oh, you thought I didn't know," Lorenz continued, his tone dripping with contempt. "But I knew all along. I played along with your game, waiting