Demon King

CH- 23: Unattainable goals.

 Inevitably, everyone has to yield at some point, willingly or coerced by a demon. The balance of karma is imposed upon even the supreme deities. Ric attempted to disrupt this cycle in his previous life, only to falter in the face of the cycle's demand for equilibrium.

Be it a pure deity or an unholy demon, both had to yield to the inexorable will of the cycle—a balance that must endure. Until the inconspicuous onlookers navigated the currents of time, they would inevitably be drawn into the equilibrium dictated by the cycle.

To die without causing a ripple or surrendering was the mark of a fool.

The denizens of Hope demonstrated resilience as they rode the tide of time, demonstrating a strength that surpassed Ric's expectations.

Henzo might seem stupid, but Ric realized how sharp his senses were. Within a span of hours, Henzo absorbed various facets of Ric, growing into a sharper and wiser individual with each passing second. Much as Ric might have desired to claim credit for this growth, it was Henzo's accomplishment alone.

Throughout the ages, enlightened beings only underwent a change of their own volition, impervious to external influence, whether wielded by the hands of the seven deadly sins or the novel strategies devised by demons.

A person falters when they willingly relinquish control to another's grasp. Ric, and perhaps Henzo, stood as exceptions to this norm, and delving deeper into the current debate would only augment Henzo's understanding.

In time, Henzo might learn and win the argument. Ric foresaw the outcome, so he took the loss instead of letting the monster grow. In this long game, allowing the monster to flourish unchecked can spell disaster for him later down the line.

"Merely leaves caught in the cycle," Ric scoffed.

"What does that make you then?" Henzo inquired, his curiosity piqued, his ears attentive for truth, while his gaze remained fixed on Ric's lips, as though gold coins were about to drop the next moment he opened them.

"I am the one destined to shatter this cycle," Ric replied, taking a step back from Henzo, who had ventured a bit too close for comfort. The prospect of breaking his unintentional celibacy with Henzo was not an appealing thought.

"What's so wrong with going with the flow?" Henzo took a step forward, prompting Ric to retreat further.

"The same issue that plagues these walls," Ric gestured toward Cathel's outer mud barriers. "Limitations," he clarified. "Becoming mere pawns in some divine scheme."

"The cycle is a god?" Henzo asked, puzzled.

Ric shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. "Someone or something beyond that... I had to ascend to divinity to grasp it, only to be cast out at the brink of enlightenment." His fist clenched in anger, though his smile betrayed a different sentiment. "As if it could evade the gaze of a demon king. Such audacity, TCK," he tsked. "I intend to shatter the chains, then mold the cycle to my whim." His smile twisted into an ominous grin.

"Just to be clear, we're still discussing the abstract concept—Cycle of life, right? Not a literal wheel?" Henzo raises a skeptical eyebrow.

"Balance," corrected Ric.

"Alright, count me in," Henzo replied with an innocent smile.

Ric found himself bamboozled for the second time in his entire life, and by the same person, no less. "You don't even grasp the full extent of my goal."

"Should I?" Henzo questioned.

"Shouldn't you?"

"No." Henzo frowned at Ric, baffled by how such an intelligent person failed to comprehend the basics of friendship. "I have nothing better to do, so I'm going to help you reach your goals," he smiled.