The Greatest Fight [progression cultivation isekai]

The Lord's Gaze

Word had spread like wildfire through the streets. The destruction of the rich people's ball quickly became a symbol of the revolution—proof that people on the streets could win, after all. Not knowing the full story, they attributed the destruction to Roa and his party, who were said to have single-handedly taken down the police and army. The story grew bigger as time went on, until it became the stuff of legends.

Hearing of this and of the mass riot that exploded as a result, the Sunflower walked out, alone, to gauge the situation with his own eyes. Roa had to clear his mind, wanting to get some air after realizing that not even the high-ranking Shadow knew where Eralay was. The rest of the group stayed behind to continue the interrogation, Vesper being the most thorough, and the only one that needed to be restrained to avoid killing the enemy. The boy's heart was racing—he was biting his finger nails, as he stared at the chaos around him. The energy in the air was electric—almost overwhelming. Everyone was on the streets. The police and army, on the other hand, were now few and far between, unable to contain the chaos any longer, overwhelmed by the sheer number of protesters.

"If he doesn't know—who will?" he murmured, with a blank look in his eyes. "I'm never going to see her again. I am going to be lost, and alone—forever."

Reaching a wide plaza, Roa looked at the angry sea of people, churning with raised fists, signs, pots, pans, and even furniture.

"Death to the Old Order!" they shouted, over and over.

Their numbers had grown from a few—to most of the city, since Roa and his friend had reached Grayshroud. The revolution had begun, and nothing would be calming it down at this point.

"Whose streets? Our streets!" they roared in unison.

The people circled the remnants of the police, now outnumbered ten to one, forming a defensive line to shield themselves from the frenzied crowd. Their earlier arrogance had given way to tight, wary formations, as sweat dripped down their anxious faces. The Sunflower smiled, his spirit lifted by the sight. The crowd, clad in rain boots, stood powerful, as the toxic waters of Tar Lake flooded the streets up to their ankles, as the rain fell relentlessly.

"The people, united, will never be defeated!" the sea of people screamed.

Inspired by the events of the previous day, they raised makeshift sunflowers made of scrap metal and wood. Driven and inspired by the people, who at last united in vast numbers, the boy climbed up a flickering street light. He smiled and looked down at them, his heart swelling with pride, his hands shaking from the excitement.

"Maybe—maybe things can change, after all," he thought.

Maybe, these ideas he and so many others always had, these wild desires, weren't just hopeless dreams, but the seeds of freedom—of a better world, soon to come. It was up to them—all of them—to make sure that these seeds would one day grow. His heart swelled. Before him, he saw the young, the elderly, parents, teachers, bakers, and every kind of person, from every walk of life, united. Even a few cops and soldiers stood in the crowd, having realized that their paychecks were not worth their souls anymore.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Become ungovernable," said Roa softly to himself. His words drowned by the noise of the crowd.

His smile disappeared, however, when a boom was heard. People went flying in the air like ragdolls. Another boom launched several more, thrown by some unknown force that had now begun to clear the crowd in the middle of the plaza. Roa's eyes scanned ahead, but could not lock on the source. He leapt down, pushing his way in that direction.

A monstrous aura then made itself apparent. It was nothing remotely like anything else he had felt before. He froze, paralyzed in fear. His head began spinning and his knees grew weak, forcing him to stop. It was dark and putrid, causing a strong sense of nausea to overtake him; an energy so heavy and menacing, that Roa felt as if he were about to lose consciousness. His knees buckled for a moment, and he fell to the ground.

"What monstrous force..." he said on his knees, trying to keep himself from hyperventilating.

The skies suddenly filled with eyelids. They opened, one by one, revealing eyes of all shapes and sizes, and yet, each with the same ice-cold stare. It was as if reality itself was being torn apart by some powerful, evil force, trying to make its way into that place. They first appeared in the skies, immense and ominous, scanning down with sudden jerks, from one spot to the next. Then, they began to appear on the buildings, and eventually, even unto the ground. The crowd gasped at the horrid sight, and the mood shifted from one of defiance, to panic. Each eye glanced around independently of the rest—searching for something, until eventually, they found what they were looking for. Thousands of pupils stopped, all at once, and focused on a single point.

"There you are..." said a loud, all-encompassing voice that seemed to come from everywhere. The boy felt watched—surrounded in all directions, as he realized that the eyes were locked onto him.

People began to scatter, when the mysterious eyes shifted again, now locking onto someone else in the crowd. Roa caught sight of a dark silhouette among the fleeing masses, his gaze drawn to the white mask. His heart skipped a beat and his breath paused. He moved forward, his steps growing heavier, until he stood face to face with the one—the man that he had been searching for, all along—the smiling Shadow who had separated him from Eralay.

"Where is she?" Roa shouted.

Mr. Briteside stood tall, levitating slightly above the ground, just as he did that day when they first met.

"I am pleased to see that we were so thorough with you that you still do not recognize me, fool."

"I recognize you enough. You're the one who ruined my life. Now, tell me how to get back to that world you convinced me was my home—so that I can set her free," the Sunflower's heart was racing, sweat running down his brow, as his fists clenched tight.

"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into," the enemy spoke with a calm voice—with a demeaning tone. "You should have played it safe, kept working your secure, little job, living your normal—pathetic, little life."

"There was nothing normal about that life. That wasn't my home, it was a prison—a prison you put me in," screamed Roa, furious, pointing his index finger at the masked man, challenging him. "But—a bird that leaves its cage, does not return to it."

The Shadow laughed, "unless he is captured by his owner—of course."

"I have no owners—and I want to see you try," said the boy with a rebellious groan, standing in an offensive position, ready to strike at any moment. "I've learned a few tricks since the last time we met."

"I want him taken care of," roared the voice above, echoing like thunder through the sky. "Now!"

The Sunflower and the Shadow stared each other down, ready for the impending faceoff, each waiting for the other to make the first move. It was now or never. Roa had gone through hell to get here—there was no room for error, or fear.

"I'm going to wipe that smirk off of your face, once and for all," said the boy, defiant.