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TIMESKIP: 6 YEARS
It had been… years.Exactly how many, Sekke had long stopped counting.
"I did so, my King! I have been graced to be of your service for six years now!!!" said Exodia proudly.
"…"
"…"
Sekke and Vritra, used to Exodia's excitement over the years, remained silent. The dragon king didn't want to start another pointless argument, and the mana king was simply too tired to do so.
Time didn't flow the same way anymore — not when you were technically working alongside the Will of the World to fix a world itself.
For the past six years, Sekke — now the Champion of the Will — had been tasked with helping it restore the world.
This consisted of both manual and magical labor. Natural formation took time, but the Dark Lord's aid made things move faster — shaping rivers, harvesting plants, planting them in barren lands, and using his magic to accelerate the growth of lifeforms that spawned in this world. It was all to make the world ready for the souls that would soon return.
And even though the tasks were boring and lacked excitement, he still decided to help the Will.Though, despite all this, he had one huge problem.
Because the world was destroyed, there was no source of life.And no source of life meant — no food.
Sekke, who once looked like a being chiseled out of divinity, now looked like a scrawny man. His muscles were gone, his stomach deflated, and his skin wrinkled.
Even looking at his reflection made the Dark Lord tear up. He was only alive because the mana itself was keeping his life force intact — but with no nutrition, he looked like a husk of his former self.
Magically, however, Sekke was stronger than ever. The world's mana practically fawned over the sole being — and that too, a Mana King — helping to restore it.
"I want to eat," said Sekke weakly.
The world was finally starting to take shape, with life beginning to sprout in many parts of it. His burden was finally easing, and that made him feel… hungry again.
Sekke looked at a small sprout near him and touched it tenderly."Grow soon, lil' one. I wanna eat you."
"MY KING! Perhaps the sunlight is too weak!" yelled Exodia dramatically, floating beside him like a divine furnace. "ALLOW ME TO BLESS THIS PATHETIC EXCUSE OF A PLANT WITH THE FLAMES OF THE SUN!!"
"NO!" yelled Sekke immediately, jumping up. "You burned the last forest trying to 'bless' the first flower that grew!"
"But it was an honorable sacrifice for agriculture!" protested the Spirit King.
"…" Sekke just stared at Exodia, making the Spirit King shrink under his gaze before retreating back inside Sekke's body.
Vritra chuckled inside his head. 'Still, he's got passion. Maybe too much.'
"Yeah, passion doesn't fill my stomach," grumbled Sekke, lying back on the floating rock, staring up at the sky. He sighed, feeling the faint hum of the world beneath him — alive again, vibrant, peaceful.
For the first time in years… Sekke felt quiet.The feeling of life slowly returning, the sound of the wind blowing gently, the warmth of sunlight giving hope.
It almost felt… boring.
Suddenly, a familiar golden shimmer filled the sky.
"Here comes the task shifter…" muttered Sekke.
"…Greetings as well, Sekke Bronzazza," greeted the Will.
Sekke simply stared at the glowing lights while lying down.
"So? What do I have to do today?" he asked, sitting up.
"Nothing," replied the Will.
"What?"
"You've done well," said the Will. "The world is back in a functional state. The resurrection mechanism is active again. The dimensional gateway can be restored now."
"You mean…" Sekke began, a hopeful look appearing on his face.
For a brief moment, he didn't know what to say. He'd thought about this moment countless times — jokingly at first, then half-heartedly, and finally… not at all. Somewhere along the way, he'd gotten used to this broken, silent world.
"You have done more than any mortal ever could. This world will remember you — its Dark Lord, its savior."
"Yeah, yeah, keep the flattery coming." Sekke scratched the back of his head, smiling. Knowing his name would be remembered by this world made him feel like his title of Dark Lord had finally earned its weight.
Exodia suddenly appeared in the sky and landed with a loud boom that cracked the floating island in half."MY KING! IF YOU LEAVE, WHAT SHALL BECOME OF ME!?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? You're coming with me," said Sekke flatly.
"MY LIEGE!!! YOUR BENEVOLENCE KNOWS NO BOUNDS!!!"
Sekke looked at the Will. "No issues with that, right?"
"No problems," said the Will. "You will forever be my Champion. On that note, I have one final responsibility for you before you go."
Sekke tilted his head curiously.
"Sekke Bronzazza, my Champion, I give you the title of Guardian of my World."
The skies and ground glowed gold in divine light. Sekke felt as though the entire world bowed before him.
"You are free to return and oversee this world whenever you wish. Ensure no greedy eyes are set upon it," said the Will solemnly.
"…So you're dumping more responsibility on me," said Sekke flatly.
"…" The Will didn't respond.
"Sigh, fine. I'll accept — on one condition."
"What condition?"
"Apart from me, no one from this or any other world can freely use the dimensional gate. It'll only serve as a passage for souls — to maintain the world's purpose."
Knowing that this gate could cause problems for his world, it was better for him to nip the bud in the first place.
"No issue. That was my plan as well," said the Will. "With this, you are now the world's manager. Don't worry — you won't have to work regularly. Just check in once a decade or so. The rest will be handled by the beings of this world. And with you as manager, I can interfere to some extent."
'So that's the real reason,' thought Sekke. 'The Will no longer trusts the beings of this world.'
"My Liege, being the overseer of a world… AS EXPECTED OF MY KING!!!" shouted Exodia proudly.
"Is it necessary to bring this one back with us?" asked Vritra dryly.
"YOU HEATHEN! YOU DARE SOW SEEDS OF DISCORD!?" yelled Exodia.
Sekke shook his head. His happiness about going home made it easy to ignore their bickering.
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As he walked toward a familiar barren land, Sekke saw the destroyed arch of the dimensional gate.
As if waiting for his presence, the earth glowed gold, and the giant arch was enveloped in divine light before slowly repairing itself.
Soon, a golden structure stood tall, a portal forming at its center.
And the moment it opened, a flood of souls rushed through, filling the sky with radiant wisps.
Smiling at the sight, Sekke walked closer to the gate.The portal pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat — recognizing its restorer.
It was time.
The world around him seemed to bow, the mana whispering faintly in gratitude.He'd once been an intruder — a chaotic force of destruction — but now, the mana sang to him, welcoming him as one of its own.
"You were never meant to be here. And yet, no one else could have done what you did. This world owes its second chance to your chaos — to your defiance," said the Will gratefully.
Sekke smirked. "Heh. I'm the Dark Lord. It's not much of an issue for me."
"Still… showing my gratitude is my duty. May you have peace in your world."
"Oh, you bet I will. I'll finally have something to eat — and I won't stop till I burst."
"I WILL BLESS OUR FIRST MEAL WITH THE LIGHT OF THE SUN!!" declared Exodia.
"Don't. You'll just cause destruction," said Vritra flatly.
The gate flared brighter.
Sekke took one last look at the world behind him — the blue skies he'd rebuilt, the lands once broken now green again.
After years of madness and miracles, he was going home.
With that, Sekke stepped through the light.The gate closed behind him.
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At Kiten, a town in the Clover Kingdom:
A scrawny man slowly walked through the streets of the town, enjoying the familiar scenery with a faint smile and tears in his eyes.
He made his way to a small house. After wiping his face, he knocked on the door.
"Coming!" came a familiar voice from inside.
The door opened — a blonde woman stood there.
"Yes—" she began, but her voice faltered as her gaze locked on the man before her.
"I'm back, Mom," said the man softly.
"Se-chan!!!" the woman cried, immediately lunging forward and pulling him into a tight hug as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I'm back, Mom…" whispered Sekke, hugging her back — and for the first time in years, crying openly.