Lust...Lost...Last Survivor.

General Wu stood there, facing the Dread Sovereign with a deep frown, his mind still torn. The demons had always been their sworn blood enemies. How could he even entertain this? But the battlefield, littered with the bodies of his comrades from previous battles, made him realize the harsh truth—they were all that was left. He couldn't make a rash decision. Not now.

Taking a deep breath, his voice steady yet strained, General Wu asked, "Why? Why are you surrendering now? After all the bloodshed, after all these years... what changed?"

The Dread Sovereign lifted his gaze, meeting Wu's eyes. There was no pride in his expression, no gloating or deceit. Just cold, emotionless clarity. His voice, heavy and ancient, seemed to echo through the quiet battlefield. "Survival."

One word. One answer. It was simple, yet it carried the weight of both their fates. Wu could feel it—this war had drained both sides to the bone? The demons, too, were tired of fighting? But it was them who invaded us, not us.

"Survival?" Wu muttered, his brow furrowing. How could they believe such a thing? His thoughts raced, trying to catch the meaning behind the Sovereign's words. Were they so desperate that even demons would surrender for peace? Or was this just a ruse? A twisted game of deceit before the final blow?

Before he could speak further, Commander Jin stepped forward, his face twisted with rage. "Enough!" he barked, cutting off General Wu before he could even respond. Jin's hand gripped his sword so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. His voice thundered with hatred, shaking with the weight of vengeance.

"You expect us to believe that?!" Jin spat, his face turning red as fury boiled inside him. "After all you've done? All the cities you burned? All the lives you stole? Now you talk of survival?" His voice was almost hysterical, trembling with years of pent-up hatred. "No, demon. We don't believe you. We'll never believe you!"

The soldiers behind Jin nodded in silent agreement, their expressions hard and unforgiving. They had all suffered under the hands of demons. They had lost too much. Far too much.

Wu watched Jin, the fire in his eyes, the desperation behind every word. But there was no anger in Wu's heart toward Jin. He understood. Jin spoke the words he, too, wanted to say. The words that swirled within him but could not break through. He had seen firsthand the devastation demons brought. He had seen the innocent burned alive, the screams of his people echoing in his mind. His wife, gone. His friends, all dead.

Jin continued, his rage unyielding. "You think we'll just kneel? Accept this? There's no peace between humans and demons—there never was, and there never will be! You've taken everything from us! You talk about survival, but you don't deserve it. I spit on your surrender! I'll never bow to you!"

_WAAAAAR_

The soldiers roared in agreement behind Jin, their voices filled with anger and loss. They had come here to die in battle, not negotiate with the enemy. They wanted revenge. Blood for blood.

But the demons… they stayed still, kneeled, bowed. Unmoving. Unshaken.

The Dread Sovereign remained on his knees, his gaze steady on General Wu. The other demon lords, kneeling behind him, did not react. Their faces betrayed no emotion, no malice, no amusement. They simply waited. 

Jin's voice grew louder, angrier. "You think we've forgotten? We haven't! You think we can forgive? We can't! This—this is just another trick! You want us weak, so you can finish us off! Well, we won't fall for it, not again! You can kneel all you want, but we know what you are—monsters. You will never change!"

Still, the demons said nothing. The silence from their side was maddening. The hatred from Jin and the soldiers was raw, seething, like a volcano ready to erupt. And yet, the demons remained still, their eyes steady, as if they, too, knew this battle had reached a point where words no longer mattered.

General Wu watched this unfold, his heart heavy. He understood Jin's hatred—he shared it. But as Jin's furious words echoed in the air, Wu couldn't help but feel the weight of reality crashing down on him. If this war continued… there would be no one left. Jin had lost everything, and so had Wu. So had everyone. But this… surrender? What if, just maybe, it was real? What if there was truly no other way only to accept?

Jin, seeing the lack of response from the demons, grew even more enraged. He stepped closer to Wu, his voice trembling as he growled, "General, we can't trust them. They've fooled us before, they'll do it again. We've lost too much, you know that. You lost your wife, your village. You were there! You remember what they did!" His voice cracked with desperation. "Please, General… don't let them live. We must finish this."

Wu felt his chest tighten as Jin's words hit him like a blow. He did remember. Every painful moment. Every scream, every flame that consumed everything he held dear. His sword trembled in his hand. He wanted nothing more than to strike them down. He wanted to see them burn.

But his eyes fell on the kneeling Dread Sovereign once more. Something about this… something in the demon's posture, his silence, his lack of defiance… made Wu hesitate. What kind of trick would involve a demon, a lord nonetheless lowering himself like this? No taunts, no mockery, no pride—just one word: survival.

Wu turned to his commanders. Some, like Jin, were filled with rage. Others, though silent, wore expressions of doubt, of uncertainty. They, too, were torn. Should they strike or listen? Could they trust, or was it better to die fighting?

"I…" Wu began, his voice faltering for a moment. He looked out over the battlefield, the endless sea of weary human faces. Each soldier was waiting for him to make the call. His heart ached. "We must…"

"Kill them!" Jin roared again, his voice filled with venom. "Now! Before it's too late!"

Wu's sword remained lowered, his mind swirling with doubt. If they fought now, it would be the end of both sides. No one would walk away alive. But could he, could humanity… accept this surrender?

His voice was soft but firm as he spoke again, "Why do you stay silent, demons? Why do you not defend yourselves against these words?" His gaze remained locked on the Dread Sovereign. "What is it that you truly want?"

But the demons, once again, gave no answer. They remained silent, unmoving, unshaken.

Jin spat on the ground in disgust. "Cowards. All of you." He turned to Wu, his voice bitter and filled with pain. "If you don't give the order, then I will."

Wu felt his heart pound in his chest. The moment of decision was upon him. Would he allow this hatred to consume him and end everything here? Or would he… take the risk and grasp this fragile thread of peace?

But still, the demons remained silent.