The next morning, the world woke up divided.
Some kingdoms sealed their borders.
Some burned their holy symbols.
Some lowered their flags toward the Demon King's Tower.
Fear was no longer the only emotion.
Hope had appeared.
---
In the Northern Iron Kingdom, the king crushed a divine decree under his boot.
"We've lost three generations obeying gods who never protected us," he said. "Prepare envoys. Not weapons."
In the Desert Dominion, war priests removed their masks.
"If the world is ending," their leader declared, "we choose the one who tells heaven to be silent."
Across ruined lands and broken nations, the same thought spread quietly:
If someone must rule—
let it be the one who cannot be controlled.
---
Inside the tower, Elowen sat on the floor of the core chamber, carefully weaving glowing flowers into a circle.
"This helps me think," she said.
The Demon King watched her silently.
The assistant approached, expression unreadable.
"My King, envoys are approaching."
"How many?" the Demon King asked.
"…Thousands."
Elowen looked up. "That sounds noisy."
"They're not here to fight," the assistant continued. "They're here to kneel."
Silence followed.
The Demon King turned toward the balcony.
"Let them."
---
Outside the tower, the plains filled with people.
Kings.
Generals.
Scholars.
Assassins.
Entire clans.
They did not bring armies.
They brought nothing.
One by one, they dropped to their knees.
"We choose you," a king said, voice shaking. "Not because you are kind—but because you are honest."
A woman stepped forward, removing a holy sigil from her neck.
"The gods lied," she said. "You do not."
Elowen watched from above, heart pounding.
"…They're choosing you," she whispered.
"No," the Demon King replied calmly. "They're choosing survival."
He raised his hand.
The tower responded.
A massive sigil burned into the sky.
DOMAIN DECLARATION
SOVEREIGNTY ACCEPTED
The world shifted.
Those who knelt felt protection wrap around them—subtle, terrifying, absolute.
Those who did not felt pressure.
Not punishment.
Warning.
---
Far above, in hidden realms beyond divine reach, something ancient stirred.
"So," it whispered, amused.
"The king gathers subjects."
Another voice laughed softly.
"Then it's time."
---
Back in the tower, Elowen clutched the Demon King's sleeve.
"Is this okay?" she asked. "Ruling everyone?"
"I don't rule," he replied.
"Then what do you do?"
"I decide who interferes."
She smiled nervously. "That sounds… safer than gods."
The Demon King did not disagree.
Deep within the tower, new floors unlocked.
Not for war.
For governance.
And for the first time in history—
The world did not kneel to heaven.
It knelt to someone who never asked it to.
---
End of Chapter 13