The media swarmed just outside the cemetery gates, cameras flashing like restless fireflies. As the iron gate creaked open, the heroes emerged from Cebu City's Top Battle Mages and Magic Knights. Cheers erupted, a roar of triumph and praise that shook the night. At the center of it all stood the man of the hour, Dani.
"Good evening, everyone."
That single line sent the crowd into a frenzy, the words of a celebrity hailed as a hero.
Amongst the mages behind him, a silent thought went through their minds:
"How did he manage to fool everyone? Since when did he have this many supporters?"
"I bring you the Battle Mages and Magic Knights who neutralized the Lich!" Dani declared warmly, his voice carrying pride and sorrow in equal measure.
"Without these heroes, a dungeon break would've occurred and countless civilians would have perished."
The Protectors of Visayas who stood behind him, are in disbelief. None expected Dani to share the glory.
Jason thought to himself, "Maybe he's not such a bad guy after all."
Then, with a trembling voice and eyes glistening, Dani continued,
"But even in victory, we mourn. Hundreds of brave souls fell today."
He paused, letting the silence weigh heavy over the crowd before speaking again.
"To the families of those who gave their lives, know that we cry and mourn with you.
If you need anything… please, don't hesitate to come to me."
Then, in a trembling voice, he added,
"I am to blame for this. I arrived too late at the frontlines. Had I known they would charge ahead without waiting for orders, I would have broken protocol myself."
Tears traced slow paths down his cheeks as his voice fractured.
"Maybe then… maybe we could have saved more of them. Maybe the fallen did not have to be so many."
Everyone in the crowd sided with Dani, their cheers drowned out reason, their faith unshakable.
To them, he was the innocent one, the true hero of the night.
The blame fell on the surviving Battle Mages and Magic Knights, branded as selfish mages chasing fame and headlines.
If not for their greed for recognition, their fellow citizens might still be alive.
Moments after... a man stepped out of the car, a presence that can be felt translating to authority. Everyone in the crowd looked back to see who is the man behind all this presence, and soon they all realized it was Dani's father, the Mayor.
For a brief moment, silence followed his arrival, shock holding everyone still. Then he was greeted by a storm of cheers.
Then a voice pierced through the noise
"Father and son! The protectors of Visayas!"
In an instant, the crowd erupted, chanting their names as though they were heroes of legend.
The Mayor raised his hand, calming the crowd.
"Thank you for the warm welcome," he began, his voice steady but heavy.
"I understand everyone's grief… but please remember, they all did what they believed was best for us all. Don't be harsh on them. They've lost comrades too."
The crowd slowly settled.
The surviving Protectors of Visayas stood in silence, despair etched across their faces.
To them, the truth was unbearable, the real faces of those two made the Lich seem merciful.
A loud voice suddenly broke through the crowd from the cemetery gates, a man stumbled out, shouting, "Lies! Lies! They're deceiving you all! They're the reason everyone died! None of them are real!"
His cries echoed in raw, desperate misery.
A sharp, menacing smile surfaced on Dani's face, swiftly buried beneath the mask of relief, that of a man grateful there had been a survivor.
Yet every beat of the moment unfolded exactly as Dani had planned.
Every word, every tear calculated… he had left one witness alive for this very moment.
Dani stepped forward, voice calm and remorseful.
"Yes… it was us who failed the public," he said solemnly.
"We will atone for our mistakes."
The protectors stood in shock and all said the same wondering in their thoughts, "Why is he confessing?"
A survivor shouted, "Yes! Arrest this man! No, everyone! Arrest them all!"
But Dani's calm voice cut through the chaos.
"The reason we did what we had to," he began, "was because the Lich emitted Dark Mana corrupting the very souls of men, manipulating them to do things that can never be undone."
His voice trembled, breaking as he continued, "Our job isn't easy. In battle, the hardest decisions are the ones where we must choose between morality and survival… which is the greater good?"
He pointed at Sean.
"This man saw it himself… where citizens were killing each other, twisted by the Lich's dark mana. The others... they had to put down comrades already bitten, stopping powerful mages from turning into the undead."
Dani's eyes darkened.
"As for me... I had to choose to let the civilians be corrupted and live under the Lich's control... or to show mercy by ending their lives."
The survivor and the remaining Protectors of Visayas couldn't believe it, how easily Dani twisted the truth, manipulating an entire crowd with just words.
Dani glanced toward his father and gave a subtle nod.
The Mayor stepped forward, taking command.
"We will help this young man recover what he has lost," he announced smoothly, "his sanity, within our world-class health facility."
The survivor screamed, "No!"
But his voice cracked… distorted, guttural… like something inhuman, scaring the crowd.
Dani's smile returned.
"It seems he's been corrupted by the master-class Lich," he said calmly, pointing. "Look at his lower right leg, a bite of an undead."
The citizens panicked.
Without hesitation, Dani drove his spear into the survivor's chest with an arrogant smile curling on his lips.
In his mind, one word echoed.
"Checkmate."
Applause rose like thunder, loud enough to bury the truth beneath it.