'L—Late general...' the crowd inwardly gulped, but none spoke out of sheer horror, their faces paler than ghosts.
Adam, who stood still on the stage expected their expressions. He took a deep breath and fixed the cuffs on his tight black suit that looked like something one would wear to a funeral before speaking once again.
"I understand what you all are thinking, and I sympathize with your concerns... I can assure you I am far more distraught than anyone in the world... When I find out what happened, or who the culprit was, I assure you I will be the first person to erase them from existence. But, now is no time to panic, nor focus our efforts on it."
He reaffirmed his brilliant, sky blue eyes as the wind waved his long, blonde, tied ponytail erratically in the cold, night-time breeze.
"We are unsure if the supreme general is indeed dead. For now, he is simply missing, and no amount of trackers could catch his presence. It is a phenomenon that we have yet to experience, let alone understand. We are simply running under the assumption that he is dead. We have to assume the worst-case scenario..."
"..."
He took a pause, followed by a deep breath.
"I will not sugar coat anything. Tensions of war between us and the Shalkers have been mounting for a very long time now. The news of the supreme general's disappearance will not fail to reach the Shalker's ears, even if we put all our efforts into preventing any information leakage. Now, it is almost certain that the war will recommence within the next year!"
Adam's voice resounded, rattling the spines of those not only standing in front of him, but those as well watching at home witnessing it all unfold.
But that was when Adam's voice echoed once again.
"BUT! Now is not the time to panic! THIS is why we need to act fast! I call upon all people of the world to stay vigilant! Do as much as you can! Take the initiative to save your own kind!
We, the military will be too! When the time comes, if we see sufficient... we WILL conscript any fighting capable human! Just as we did before! No matter your race, age, power, or status! All will be joining forces!"
"I UNDERSTAND! This is a lot for you to take in all at once. AND, It's a lot for me to ask! As such! I will volunteer myself, as the flesh and blood of the former supreme general, to take his place for now, and fight along all of you at the front lines with my own strength! I wish that you would have the courage to do the same!
Fight alongside me! No matter how little your efforts are! You WILL be fully compensated! THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SELFISHNESS! THIS IS A TIME TO FIGHT AS ONE AND DEFEND ALL OF HUMANITY!! ARE YOU ALL WITH ME!!" He raised his right fist up in the sky, sending shockwaves that blue back the clouds above, allowing the light of the sky to shine down upon them.
The crowd stood mesmerized for what to them, felt like several seconds, mouths gaping before settling on the ferocious, blazing gaze of their new supreme general. And as they did, the flames of his gaze extended to the entire space, lighting the hearts of all who heard it ablaze, responding with their entire being.
"YES!! SUPREME GENERAL SIR!!" They screamed in unison, their right fists straight as an arrow pointing to the sky.
"I HAVE RECEIVED YOUR VOICES LOUD AND CLEAR! Today was meant to be a day of celebration to commemorate our generation's strongest! But, today's events, and my speech right now have sullied that... I don't want that to happen... As such, please go on with the festivities! Have fun with your friends and families! But, keep what I said in mind!
These next weeks may be the final weeks of relaxation our current reality will allow! THAT IS AN ORDER! UNDERSTOOD!?"
"YES, SUPREME GENERAL SIR!!"
Adam stretched his raised fist out wider, taking a deep glance at the crowd. He looked satisfied. He gave a look of firm acknowledgement to all before disappearing, dissolving into a blob of shadows. Yet, even though he was gone, his presence and impact still could still be felt in the very air.
"Yeah, right..." He scratched his head. "So, you came here to ask me something?"
"Hm?" She opened and closed her eyes. "Do I really need a reason to be with my successor? I'm with you all the time, is it odd now because you can see my physical form?"
"No no! It's not that!" He vigorously shook his head. "I just asked the question out of instinct!"
"Huh?" She sighed. "Well, if you have to ask, I'm here to ask you about how removing your demon corruption has changed your perception of those two. I'm really curious... Like... Did you find that Jayden girl too clingy and annoying? The redhead maybe a little dull or underwhelming?"
"Huh? That was out of pocket," He could not help but chuckle. "Abby has gone through a lot, I'm surprised she's as well as she is now! And Jayden might seem a little clingy, but, anyone would be after a whole year of not seeing a loved one! If anything, you're way more clingy than her!"
"WHA!" Avilia blurted. "Idiot! That's because I'm forced to put up with you for the future of demon-kind!"
"PFFF!" Moby burst out into tears. "I was just playing around! I didn't think you'd be so combative!"
"Arrghh..." Avilia shook her head, looking away. "Just answer the damn question already. Now's no time for jokes... How did removing your corruption make you feel?"
"..."
Moby's joyful attitude abruptly shifted almost melancholic, taking a slight pause.
"Like you... I was really curious too... No, more like I was worried... Were all my feelings fake? Have I been forcing myself to like people, even though my true self didn't?
I needed answers, and I finally had my first chance to solve them... ... I don't know if staying with them for so long had deluded even my true self... But... The way I perceive them, at least to me now, seemed to have not changed in the slightest." He twisted his head and gave Avilia a lukewarm smile, but looking at her, she seemed to bear little to no outer expression.
"Stop over-complicating things dumbass..." She sighed. "It might be true, that you may not be where you are now without a little delusion. But now, you understand where those people came from, their habits, their personalities, their struggles, their feelings. And knowing all that, your clear mind decided to make the judgement of how to feel about their current self.
That's all that really matters in the end, right?"
"..."
"Hey... Avilia... "
"Yes?"
"Thank you so much for saying that... It makes me feel a lot better you know?"
"You're welcome... I guess..."
She did not even look Moby in the face as she lowered her vision even lower, half closed with a sombre look.