Lonely At The Top

It's undeniably lonely at the top, so lonely that one may wonder why everyone strives to reach it. The Demon Lord sat upon his throne, contemplating when his long and solitary life might come to an end. He hadn't been born into this position; once, he was the lowliest of his kind. Born as a low-born demon, he had fought his way to the throne, a dream shared by demons from high-born to low-born. In this realm, only the strongest could attain the pinnacle and command fear from others. Since everyone coveted the top spot, few managed to hold it for long—until he became the strongest. His strength was unparalleled, unchallenged by any other.

"My lord," the only human residing in the demon realm responded to the Demon Lord's summons.

"Lucian," the Demon Lord sighed.

"You summoned me," Lucian replied. Kidnapped by demons during a foray into the human realm, Lucian had been spared by the Demon Lord, who brought him to his palace. Over the decades, Lucian had regaled the Demon Lord with tales of the human realm. In this universe, different races inhabited distinct realms, akin to planets. The realms were interconnected, and the humans, being perceived as the weakest, suffered frequent invasions, particularly from the brutal demons.

"Tell me about your realm," the Demon Lord instructed.

Lucian found narrating the stories tedious, but he had no choice. It had been nearly five decades since he arrived in the demon realm, and his stories were his sole lifeline. He disliked everything about this realm—its bland food, incessant talk of warfare, and the constant fear of imminent death.

"It's a bright place," Lucian began. "The food is delicious. You wouldn't understand since you've never tasted anything beyond demon cuisine." Lucian scoffed.

"I've heard you talk about the food and the brightness of your realm," the Demon Lord observed, his eyes cold yet burning as coal. As the strongest demon, he symbolized power. Lucian, fearful, couldn't have guessed that this powerful demon had once been weak and lowly.

"Tell me something else."

Lucian wracked his brain for a new topic to interest the evidently bored Demon Lord. He could speak of love or peace, but those subjects had already been discussed. After a pause, he found his answer.

"Life as an ordinary human is the best. You don't have to worry about who wants you dead or what grand achievement you should pursue," Lucian spoke, a gentle smile forming on his lips. As an ordinary human, he knew the value of simplicity.

"Your loved ones are close, and power struggles don't concern you. Even though you might struggle to put food on the table and grumble about the state of the world, you'll never feel lonely." The word 'lonely' piqued the Demon Lord's interest.

"An ordinary human is never lonely?" he inquired.

"That's right."

"How does one become an ordinary human?"

Lucian hadn't pondered this before, but the answer was straightforward. Being ordinary wasn't difficult to achieve; it wasn't a path to greatness, but it held its own charm.

"Most classes are determined by birth," Lucian began to explain. "When born into a low-class family, becoming an ordinary human is almost guaranteed. Some high-borns might choose to become ordinary and are disowned by their families, a disgraceful fate. They end up worse off than ordinary humans."

Lucian glanced at the Demon Lord, noticing his keen interest in the story, and continued.

"Ordinary humans don't have the chance to meet many girls, as most are attracted to powerful figures and awakeners." This was the part Lucian hated about being ordinary.

"Who are the awakeners?" the Demon Lord inquired. Having never left the demon realm, he was unfamiliar with Lucian's references.

"They're humans who've awakened the power to combat demons and monsters. They possess great strength and magic. The stronger they are, the more luxuries and women they enjoy." Lucian's eyes gleamed with admiration for these awakeners, an emotion not lost on the Demon Lord.

"So, awakeners have more than ordinary humans?" the Demon Lord probed.

"Indeed. They can drive any car they desire, command respect from every nation, and have their pick of companions. Compared to ordinary humans, they have access to all the finer things in life."

The Demon Lord noted that awakeners also enjoyed enviable benefits. Having many companions was something he'd longed for but never experienced. It was one of his life's regrets, and he sought to determine which of the two lives was truly worth envying.

"Tell me, who is lonelier: an ordinary human or an awakener?" Loneliness, the Demon Lord's greatest torment, had piqued his curiosity.

Lucian contemplated for a moment before responding, "Awakeners are often in competition, even within their own guilds. The constant rivalry and responsibilities can make them lonely at times. You see, it's lonely at the top. Ordinary folks find contentment in the simple pleasures of life. Their main sorrow stems from an inability to protect their loved ones."

The Demon Lord couldn't comprehend the sadness Lucian spoke of; he'd never had anyone to protect but himself. However, he understood loneliness. Thus, he became enamored with the ordinary human life. As long as it offered freedom from loneliness, the Demon Lord believed it was the superior existence, and he envied it.

From that day onwards, Lucian continued to regale the Demon Lord with stories of ordinary human life. For a demon, living such a life was impossible, as they all craved war and destruction.

"Often, after a day's work, we lie on a green field and watch the sunset. The sky is always beautiful, a stark contrast to the red sky of the demon realm." Lucian found joy in recounting his simple, human experiences.

While Lucian shared his tales, a sudden explosion echoed, startling him.

"Sadly, our time together must end," the Demon Lord said, reclining on his throne with a sigh. He sensed the intruders before they breached his walls. He could have fled or attacked them outside, but he was weary of this unending power struggle.

"Demon Lord, today is your final day," a voice thundered.

Even without seeing them, the Demon Lord knew over a thousand formidable demons had come to challenge him. For years, he had been the strongest, and it had taken every demon banding together to mount this assault.

"They've come to end your reign," Lucian exclaimed, fear etched across his face. He had never witnessed the Demon Lord in battle, but he was certain of his strength. Yet, even he questioned the odds of triumphing against a thousand demons.

"What will you do?" Lucian, old and weary of the demon realm, still clung to life. He hoped to return to the human realm someday.

"What do you wish of me? Despite standing at death's door, I am still the Demon Lord. I will grant you a wish in gratitude for your intriguing stories."

"I wish to return to the human realm," Lucian responded without hesitation.

The Demon Lord sighed; it was a significant request. The portal was distant, and he would have to fend off hordes of demons while ensuring Lucian's safety. Moreover, opening the portal required a great deal of magic.

"Very well, I shall grant your wish," the Demon Lord affirmed as he retrieved his sword, resting beside the throne.

"Stay behind me, and I will protect you," Lucian nodded.

"Demon Lord," the horde's leader bellowed. He bore the upper body of a bull, in stark contrast to the Demon Lord's human form with two imposing horns. The Demon Lord's crimson skin and height marked him as a giant among demons. And if not for his red skin, height and two great horns, he would have passed as a human, a very handsome man.

"Today is your reckoning. We can no longer allow a low-born like you to rule and hold the title of the strongest," the leader proclaimed. In this realm, demons had classes, with high-born and low-born distinctions. Historically, only high-born demons had ruled and claimed the title of the strongest. That changed when the Demon Lord, a low-born, rose to power through sheer determination and combat prowess. His ascent had humiliated the high-borns, and their collective embarrassment drove them to unite and attempt his overthrow.

The Demon Lord wasn't born with any special magic or abilities; he had relentlessly trained himself to reach the pinnacle of strength. With his unrivaled might, he had challenged and defeated every demon who dared to oppose him. Now, he would use that strength to guide Lucian to the portal. However, he doubted if even he could prevail against a horde of a thousand demons.