A man always knows when he stands before his maker.
Death becomes... obvious. Inevitable.
The king trembled, yet forced out a laugh.
"So this is it. A devil sent to kill me... what an honor, you bastard!"
Tsukuyomi tilted his head, expression unreadable.
"A devil, huh?"
His voice dropped—cold enough to freeze stone.
"I'll take that as an insult."
He stepped forward. The air warped around him.
Cosmic wings unfurled—vast, endless, terrifying.
"So... you're the fool who dared to use the gods' names in your petty little charade."
Then his power erupted.
The castle shook violently.
Stone cracked. Torches died.
The king collapsed to his knees, choking under a pressure no mortal should feel.
He stared at those impossible wings—wings that held stars.
And in that moment... he understood.
This was a god. But which one?
Not Odin.
Not any demon lord.
He would've heard rumors.
"W-what are you?" the king screamed. "Are you death itself?"
Tsukuyomi blinked slowly.
"Me? What I am... does it matter?"
The aura vanished like a breath.
"Relax. You'll die when I say so."
He crouched slightly.
"Now tell me... why did you declare war on the demons?"
"They're... demons!" the king stuttered. "They never harmed us, yes, but how long until they do? Their numbers keep growing, blessed with magic—w-we had no choice!"
"I see."
Tsukuyomi's gaze sharpened.
"As expected. Plain jealousy."
He cracked his neck lazily.
"So I'll respond with equal pettiness."
A soft smile.
"A war? No... a purge."
He leaned in close.
"You dare declare my precious demons enemies of the gods?
No. You are the enemy."
"Kill me if you want—"
Shing.
In one motion, Tsukuyomi severed his head.
Blood burst across the throne room.
The head rolled.
Tsukuyomi picked it up casually, pressed it back, and with a flick of divine energy—
The king revived screaming.
"Boy," Tsukuyomi sighed, "your death didn't feel satisfying at all."
The king clawed at his throat, searching for a wound that no longer existed.
"What... what are you doing to me?"
"Getting creative," Tsukuyomi said. "After a few millennia, you learn new tricks. But I'm bored with you for today."
"What does that mean...? Am I dead? Am I... damned?"
Tsukuyomi laughed softly.
"The moment you declared demons your enemy—
you doomed your entire species."
The king froze.
"What does that mean?"
"You know what I'm thinking?" Tsukuyomi tapped a finger to his temple.
"What if... the non-human races take over?
Purge the humans.
The few survivors enslaved.
Humanity collapses on this planet... because of you."
The king's heart cracked.
"You're... you're cruel. What about the children? The innocent? Don't you care about humans at all? What kind of god are you...?"
Tsukuyomi rested his sword on his shoulder.
"I didn't create you. Why should I care about you?"
He turned away.
"For now, I'll take my leave. Let's have fun. Gather all the humans you can—your kind worships martyrdom, right?"
He smirked.
"So try dying with honor."