But the king questions this truth: if life existed only to beget new life, what meaning does it hold for the individual?The deterioration of countless muscles cumulates to a single person's aging; the aging of countless people cumulates to a nation's decline; in the end, even civilizations and entire species succumb to the will of time's impermanence.
Though new things will always replace the old, what becomes of those who are replaced?
The once great leader and conqueror, never had reason to ponder such matters. In his prime, newly crowned as king, he possessed infinite ambition and yearned to share it with the world.
But every beginning has its end, and just as one must leave behind the carefree days of youth, a kingdom's era of peace and prosperity must draw to a close.The first rebellion came when a duke foolishly believed that had languished on the throne for too long and was no longer able to command the army. A group of lesser nobles quickly rallied behind the duke and the kingdom was thrown into war.
But reality proved the king's might remained undiminished. In less than a hundred days, led his army to utterly crush the rebellion. At dusk, effortlessly broke through enemy lines and slew the rebel commander. In the capital, soldiers and citizens alike wept with joy, celebrating this renewed display of royal glory.Only himself knew how time had already been mercilessly gnawing at his once mighty frame.
After the celebrations had quieted, the king's sighs echoed across the empty halls.
He could use his military power to preserve his dynasty for now, but how long could a one life sustain a dynasty? Eventually, his kingdom would meet the same fate as all the realms he had conquered in his youth, and all his achievements would perish with it.
How could he not sigh?"Mortality is the cruelest joke played upon man." In the midnight hours, between sleep and waking, a hazy apparition drifted by the throne. "The rise of a new dynasty must herald the death of the old. A hero's epic must come at the heels of another's downfall."
In this endless cycle of life and death, what have mortals achieved? All that is gained will eventually be taken, leaving only a deepening emptiness and sorrow.
"This is the true enemy of mortals since the dawn of time, yet they dare not raise their heads to look upon it. They even degrade their rightful desires as greed, submitting to this... enslavement. But , you dare to challenge it."
To challenge the inevitability of death.
A sudden crack of thunder jolted from this dream.
Was it really just a dream?In the years that followed, one old minister after another bid farewell to and this world, departing into the unknown with acceptance, reluctance, joy, resentment, and resignation. Before he even realized it, his rule had gone from expansion to preservation. When he looked around his court, he only saw new faces. And when he donned his armor for battle again, he found the tenacity and ambitions of his youth standing on the other side.
From ancient texts, learned the name of the apparition that tempted him—the Lord of Greed.
But what wrong was there in greed?
As the battles continued to take their toll on the king, this thought surfaced more and more frequently, causing two voices to echo constantly in his mind—
Indulge in your emotions, let yourself be consumed by them!
Join with me, turn to me, and walk the path of the Demon King!It was dusk on yet another battlefield when he finally beheld that bewitching flower, that profound light, and at last indulged in his greed. In excruciating pain, his flesh became undone, only to reform into indescribable compositions. His cloak closed to form a flower bud, from which the Eternal King burst out, born anew.
Another's will, vast and boundless, took root in his heart, revealing to him a new purpose—
The world is your nourishment. Devour it, until nothing remains!
