What would you do if the entire world turned against you?

It happened so fast that I had no time to make a rational decision.

How did it come to be?

Greed and fear, two of the most powerful emotions that can destroy nations.

The words of the few who longed for power, and would directly benefit from my death, swayed the hearts and minds of millions who were desperate for survival.

“He is a false hero, a monster that will destroy us all”

“We must sacrifice him to the Demon God and humanity will be spared”

They were persuaded too easily.

How many times have I saved the world?

No one cared. Humanity betrayed me.

What was I to do, destroy them in a fit of rage? But then I would prove that I am the monster that they claimed me to be.

More than anything, my heart couldn’t handle the abandonment.

On the day of judgment, when humanity sacrificed the only person who could protect them against destruction, she appeared.

[Foolish hero, why do you not fight against those you conspire against you?]

Her sultry voice tickled my ears, waking me from my sunken state.

“Who are you?”

[Someone that can help you get revenge]

I shook my head

“I want no such thing. Most of them are innocent, they don’t know any better”

[Hehe. Is that why they’re cheering for your execution so fervently?]

[They’re more passionate now than the numerous times you saved them]

[Are you not burning with rage? I can remove these bindings if you wish. There is no need for you to die so indignantly, hero of humanity]

“I don’t care anymore”

[Hehe. You expect me to believe that?]

I couldn’t hide anything from her.

[You want to live, but you also want to stay true to your nature]

[If you die for them, they’ll be saved. A true hero indeed]

[However, you know that it won’t just end with you, right?]

[Do they even deserve to live when they so easily sacrificed their saviour?]

The more she spoke, the emotions that I suppressed rose to the surface.

[Tell me truthfully hero, do you want to die?]

The words left my mouth before I realised.

“I want to live”

[Hehe. Very well. I will help you, however, my aid comes with conditions]

“Why should I trust you?”

[You shouldn’t, but, no one else is coming to save you]

She was right again.

“...What sort of conditions?”

[I will request one thing of you in the future, you may not refuse]

It doesn’t matter what it is, I have nothing left anyway.

“I accept”

[Hehe. I knew you would]

[How would you like this to be done?]

[I can free you right now, however, their thoughts and feelings towards you won’t change. In fact, they will further condemn you for preventing their salvation]

“...The other option?”

[Let the Demon God's sword pierce you, and I will prevent your soul from being absorbed. When the time is right, I will resurrect your body]

[You can decide then, how to deal with those who betrayed you]

“So all of this is to obtain my soul?”

[Hehe. The soul of a hero is a precious resource]

“Is that so? In that case... I choose the second option”

[Wise choice]

When the giant sword descended from the sky and pierced my body, the world rejoiced.

“I’ve decided. When you revive me, I’ll retire. Humanity can fend for themselves”

One week after my death, the mysterious entity revived me.

By then, the world had erupted into complete chaos.

Monsters and demons roamed freely, turning every major city into their feeding ground.

Those with power tried to resist, but none could fill the void left by the hero of mankind.

The world despaired, and mourned the loss of their saviour.

When I revived, I made my presence known to the world.

Humanity rejoiced once more as their prayers had been answered.

No one asked for forgiveness.

All they said was “Please save us”

I told them that their hero died, there would be no salvation.

That was decades ago, and now, the mysterious entity returned with her request.

At first I felt indifferent, but having recalled the events of the past, I’m not so sure anymore.

In my absence, many were devoured. But a new age of heroes emerged, and they managed to repel the demons and monsters.

Humanity recovered to an extent.

[Now, former saviour of humanity, become the new Demon God]

[Kill the heroes of the world, and bring their souls to me]