“We’re in what?” My voice echoed across the room.

“We’re in debt, my liege,” the man said despite his shaking. He was probably afraid of me. Just being in my presence is enough to send anyone into despair. After all, with their heroes slain in front of their eyes, there was no hope of going against me.

“Did the previous king not have entire warehouses of gold and jewelry?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Why don’t you use those?”

“Ah… those were personal treasures so we really couldn’t—”

“Well, I don’t really couldn’t give a shit, can I?” I said and shook my head. That bastard spent the kingdom’s money for his own treasures. “Are they enough to pay off the debt?”

“Certainly, my liege.”

“Then make it so,” I grumbled and looked over the documents. “The tax is too damn high… and skewed. Lower the tax to 20% until the people can recover.”

The fight with the kingdom’s heroes did take a toll in some parts of the land. Some construction was being done in those places.

“And apply that to the nobles as well. If anyone wishes to complain about it,” I paused and snapped my fingers. A summoning circle appeared behind the official and a headless armor was summoned. Black flames emanated from it. It was very intimidating.

I smirked and continued, “they can tell it to this instead. Bring it with you.”

“Yes, my liege.” The man bowed and walked away. The living black flame armor followed suit.

‘Oh, thank goodness,” the official thought. ‘This summoned knight was as strong as the sword saint. There’s no way the nobles would disagree. Then again, most of the corrupt ones have been executed.’

“General,” I turned to the former captain of the knights. I killed off all the generals when they opposed me. He was the only one left. He was quite capable too. “Any news of the empire?”

“None, my lord. They are afraid of your power.”

“As they should.” Indeed. That made me feel great. The general was nervous but that was expected. It is impressive he can stand in my presence.

‘The empire actually wanted to send support to rid the kingdom of the evil sorcerer. But thankfully, my men and I were able to convince them otherwise. We’ll just keep feeding them false information. Soon, the kingdom will recover,’ the General thought.

A herald announced the arrival of an envoy from the Theocracy. Another one of the world's powers.

“Ho? Have you come to negotiate my surrender or charge me for my crimes?”

“My lord, we wish to offer you an allegiance,” the envoy knelt and bowed.

“An allegiance? AN ALLEGIANCE?!” I howled. The air became heavy and people felt as if a blade was placed on their necks.

“I-I shall correct myself. The Theocracy will serve under the kingdom.”

“That’s more like it. Now, leave.” I stopped and thought for a bit. “Ah, take this and go. A bit of a reward for knowing your place.”

One of the servants brought a staff. I really didn’t need it. It was a trash staff and the materials were subpar.

“Thank you for your mercy,” the envoy took it and left. ‘The Saint Staff! After all these years, we finally recover it from the clutches of that bastard king. Does he not know its value? No, it simply is not worth his time.’

“My liege, the offerings have arrived.” A servant announced.

“Good, have them prepared and sent to my chambers.”

I smirked as I sat upon the throne that I took for himself. Beside me, the queen shivered from those words.

“Don’t worry,” I cackled. “You’re still my favorite.”

‘What a relief,’ she thought. ‘I thought he was going to throw me away. I thought my days were numbered. I was at the age where my husband would look for a younger wife. I would have probably been executed under false charges.’

“This is definitely it. All the power, the riches, and the women. People serve me lest they lose their heads. Ah, this is all worth it.”

The servant heaved a sigh. ‘The previous king would have killed me for speaking without permission. May those nobles' daughters forgive me for calling them offerings. Then again, they are after his bloodline and powerful magic...’

There was nothing they could do. I will keep ruling over this place. This kingdom is mine. I made sure to implement some things to deal with the aftermath of the battle. Reparations to the affected locations. Of course, I need to make sure that the citizens working would be paid and fed.

Man, did I really do all this damage? This kingdom was barely standing. Well, whatever. I already prepared for the worst case. I even had a plan if I ended up razing the kingdom to the ground. The people made way for me quite easily. There was barely any resistance.

There were the heroes, some knight squadrons, the king, and some nobles. But aside that, it was easy to take over.

It’s obviously thanks to my power.

“Prepare for a celebration. In three days, we shall have feasts all over the kingdom. Make sure every citizen is fed well,” I got up, grinning at how I’ll show them my power. They will fear and cower under me. “Yes, yes, a couple of dragons should be enough for that. General, prepare some butchers. I will be returning tonight after my hunt.”

“Y-yes, my lord.”

‘Did he just say he was going to hunt dragons?’ FOR FOOD?!' The general, the queen, and every servant in the room thought.

They call me a villain. Why? Because they are ignorant and afraid. Necromancy is a gift to the world. The arcane is but a tool for the worthy to better whatever they please. And black robes adorned with skull imagery? Well that's just plain stylish.

The so-called heroes tried to put up a fight. To protect their precious king. To keep things the same. To keep the people under their thumb, afraid and unquestioning. It wasn't difficult to best them. Believe it or not, it was easy. They ruled mostly out of tradition and image, not true power. Not like me.

My skeletons fight without fear, but not without choice. I bring them back from the dead and offer them the world. A second chance to achieve all of their worldly goals. A second chance at life. A chance that one day their lost family and friends may also rejoin them in continous second life. They beg to help me. To help spread my benevolence. I listen and graciously accept every time.

They tore through the King's Guard in less than an hour. Just boys with sticks compared to a legion of undying passionate soldiers fighting for a cause. The heroes tried casting their own magic back at me, but clearly suffered from never learning about the so called "dark" elements. Their balls of fire and ice just phased through me and got sent to the nether. Once I cast my shadow restraints upon them and banished the king into the nether I offered them a choice to join me or perish. Most joined. Such weak wills they had in the end. The few others will have a chance to reconsider eventually. I always store the remains I collect.

Since then I have taught countless young wizards and witches the art of necromancy so that they may see their loved ones yet again. I taught the people of the arcane. How they can utilize it for their communities. Endless water taps flowing into existence helped irrigate the crops. Nether portals for restrooms ended most of the diaseases not to mention stench of the city. Not to mention the new bussling population of undead who never needed food, sleep, or shelter meant that prosperity all but exuded from the kingdom in mere weeks. The citizens now had the time to pursue their passions loved ones to share it.

The people have never been happier. I am already looking forward to meeting the rest of the cities who think me a villain.

Deep within the ruined confines of the Castle of Light, The Dark Lord sat blissfully within the Light King's Throne. Since time itself was a concept, the forces of Light and Darkness had fought each other, and Darkness had been victorious in the end, scattering what remnants of Light remained into the countryside.

As they relaxed within their chair, their meditation was interrupted with the loud slamming of the throne room's doors, revealing a figure covered in pure whitely armor, the Hero of Honor.

The brightly-armored Hero rose their blade at The Dark Lord, stating their intentions, "DARK LORD! I HAVE COME TO VANQUISH YOU ONCE AND FOR ALL AND FREE THIS KINGDOM FROM DARKNESS ITSELF!"

"This again, oh Hero of Honor? This is the fourth time you've visited this month."

"Enough talking! I am here to fight you!"

The Dark Lord sighed, "tell me Hero, why do you fight me still? You know you never win. In fact, I know you have a question you've been meaning to ask me, yes? So ask away."

Silence reigned for a moment before the two of them, before the Hero of Honor lowered their weapon.

"I don't understand... why?... Why aren't you evil?"

"Me? Evil?"

"I expected you to have pillaged the Kingdom of Light, murder its people to your Dark Gods, and reign over a devastated land; but everywhere I go, all I hear from the people are praises in your name. It's like life didn't change even though you defeated us, the Guardians of Light."

A deep laughter came from the throne-bound Embodiment of Darkness, as they rose from their stolen throne.

"Come Hero, let us talk."

As the two walked through burnt hallways, repairmen of all types, from humans, to orcs, to elves, and even imps could be seen fixing the devastation.

"You see Hero of Honor; I, The Dark Lord, continue to uphold the well-being of this kingdom because it is the only way I can destroy Light itself."

They passed by a room full of servants, hard at work filing papers, the stacks as tall as the room was high.

"Our war has existed for eternity, since before our civilizations were even born."

A room over, an officer scolded a combined squad of Elves, both of dark and light lineage.

"Everytime the Forces of Light would vanquish the Darkness, Darkness would return, born from the shadows of those resenting the world; and everytime the Forces of Darkness would vanquish the Light, Light would return, the fires of hope arising from those aspiring for greater things."

The two stopped within a room containing a large map, showcasing the entirety of the continent, the landmass separated into two colors.

"Other Dark Lords would have vanquished the Light as always, Hero, but I am no mere Dark Lord; I am THE Dark Lord, and in my journey to become The Dark Lord, I realized one thing."

The Dark Lord waved their hand over the map, blending though magic the two colors into a single unified one.

"To destroy Light forever, I would have to stop this war forever, put an end to the senseless killing of each other due to our differences, and embrace a new identity to our peoples! But when I approached the King of Light, he rebuked my offer, and vowed the destruction of Darkness!"

Angered, The Dark Lord summoned a dagger of shadow, throwing it into a nearby painting of the Light King that had not yet been taken down.

"He was a fool! Our people had stopped fighting for a short while, but in order to support his invasion and secure his reign, he heavily taxed the people, purged his nobles, and forcefully conscripted everyone into his armies!"

The Dark Lord turned around, pointing their finger at the Hero of Honor, yelling outloud, "He took you! And orphans just like you, and filled your head full of lies! He made you his Champion, and told you of our evil! Uncaring of the fact that his reign itself was causing the very evils that plagued his land!"

Silence, before continuation, "When I conquered his Kingdom, and scattered his followers, I vowed I would be better. Everywhere I went, I found the villages burnt to the ground, the people starved and homeless, the very land itself weeping for respite; so that I gave to them; even now my armies are rebuilding the continent, making roads and bridges, planting crops, feeding the desperate, reviving the land itself...."

The Hero of Honor could only stare, "I... I did not know our crimes were so great...."

"No, I do not expect you to know, you were nothing more than his Champion, a puppet of his ambitions given form, sent to kill me and restore the status quo; but Hero, we are more alike than you think, you and I do not need to be Champions of Light and Darkness. No, instead, we can be Champions of a new age, a new era, an era where the continent is unified, an era where our steel blades can instead be turned into steel tools, an era where peace may finally reign!"

The Dark Lord stuck their hand out, "I have seen your determination Hero, and I only wish to ask if you would be willing to walk side by side with me, into a new dawn."

The Hero of Honor hesitated for a moment, staring at their hand in consideration of what to do next, before extending it out to shake The Dark Lord's own.

"I only hope I do not come to regret this, oh Dark One."

"Please, we are friends now, call me Sadao; and our agreement calls for a celebration! I shall have the servants break out the finest drinks from the whole land!"

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