Chapter 177: Death of a Civilization

<Back to the topic at hand, newborns aren’t the only ones who absorb the will fragments. Every object in the world does; it’s just that the amount is too little to be noticeable. But even then, what about a thousand, a million, a billion years later? The larger the body, the harder it gets to awaken their sentience. Yet the laws of order are fair. Once something like a mountain, a lake, an ocean…. once they gain sentience, they wouldn’t die until the world itself is destroyed.>Zyrus guessed a lot from Pugalo’s thoughts. What would happen if the mountain or a lake which had yet to gain sentience is changed? The answer was clear. It also explained why there weren’t any sentient inanimate objects on earth despite its long history.

<It seems we’re getting out of topic…its better if you see it for yourself>

Pugalo waved his hands and the seasons changed faster and faster. The farm stretched as far as Zyrus’s eyes could see. He felt the different fruits and grains growing and withering away, and each time, the farm became more and more alive. Just how many people did it feed? This farm was the lifeblood of millions of lives.

This place was different from any he had seen thus far. This was a world on a higher level of existence. Each fruit that grew on this farm was enough to satiate a dragon for a whole year. The humanoids living here had long lives and low reproduction rates.

The fact that this farm was feeding millions was a testament to its importance. Years and decades passed by until one day; the tides changed in the river of time.

There was neither an alien invasion nor any war or natural disaster.

What brought the farmlands’ destruction was an ore that was discovered beneath a well. At first, it was nothing more than a momentary interest in the people's boring yet peaceful lives.

That was until they discovered the real use of the ore: It could enhance their level of existence. The entire world went into a frenzy after the discovery. Who didn’t want to become more powerful and live longer? As for the food, there were other less fertile areas that would provide enough.

The land that had fed them for countless eras was ravaged to find more ores. Not one person felt sentimental towards it. Who would feel bad for digging the ground?

But, as always, there was an exception. ‘It’ too was ignored thrown into trash by the people.

“How did you keep your sanity?” Zyrus asked Pugalo who was watching on with emotionless eyes. The scarecrow was thrown into a pile of garbage alongside the fledgling plants and soft soil.

They were not needed anymore. They were a hindrance in the mining process.

Thus, they were discarded.

This was a normal process no matter how one looked at it. Zyrus wouldn’t have thought much of it either if he hadn’t heard Pugalo’s previous words.

<Those children…were about to be born. You asked how I kept my sanity despite being buried under mounds of death, right? Do you know how I felt that day?>

Zyrus listened to Pugalo’s voice filled with grief and hatred. The whole picture was already clear in his mind.

<Those ignorant vermin killed them all without a second thought. If…if the children were born as spirits, do you know how much the whole world would progress? Their each leaf and grain would’ve evolved others beyond their current limit. The entire realm would’ve ascended to a higher league of existence. No one had to suffer, no one had to die…>

“…”

<Do you think I’m overreacting?>

“Not at all.”

Perhaps a bystander would think so, but not him. Zyrus knew better than anyone what the scarecrow felt that day.

Imagine this; someone was living a quiet life alongside their companion without bothering anyone. They even fed others for countless eras. But one day, the same people came with their sharp weapons and killed them. They killed its pregnant companion and dug out the hearts of their unborn children, right in front of its eyes.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

<They deserved a fate worse than death. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM>

The scenes changed along with Pugalo’s raging emotions. The sentient core that was about to take shape was destroyed, the will of the land was shattered, and the one who was guarding them was decaying beneath a pile of filth.

But not all of their essence was lost. Day by day the scarecrow evolved by merging with the broken fragments. The fertile soil became its flesh and the tender plants became its veins.

Even though its insides were filled with life and a boundless power…its heart remained hollow. It was given the name Pugalo by the people, and except for that name, nothing remained of that civilization.

Zyrus watched the enormous scarecrow bring down the world's annihilation. No one had noticed how it all began or how it ended. The fertile lands were desertified, the ocean overthrew the rivers and drowned countless cities, the clouds scattered and the whole atmosphere was broken down.

Even though there were countless people who were above lv 200 by the sanctuary’s standards, there was no food or water. They could survive with just the world’s energy, but that too was limited.

For the first time, the world was engulfed in war and famine. Millions died each day, and before long, they didn’t even know what they were fighting for. The unified civilization was shattered, and the divided ones fought to regain their sovereignty.

Decades and centuries passed by as the population dwindled with each war. The weight of grudge and hatred had pressed down the seed of evolution. Even if a group desired peace or found a solution, Pugalo would destroy them without anyone’s notice.

It was strong. Strong enough to destroy the world in a single day.

And yet, it waited. Just like it was waiting for the birth of the land spirits, it now waited for the world to end.

People fought, fought, and fought. They destroyed and looted what others had, and soon enough, everyone forgot how to create something.

It was the first time Zyrus was seeing a civilization regress in such a way. Pugalo’s words were still ringing in his ears.

“Indeed…it’s a fate worse than death.”

An entire thriving civilization was destroyed from its roots. The once intelligent and proud beings were reduced to mere animals by a single scarecrow. Their wills were eroded generation after generation until not a single sentient creature was left.

Everything vanished in his vision except a single spot. It was a tiny sapling growing on a deserted city.

After the apocalypse that lasted for millennias, a new era began.

That was the last scene Pugalo saw before leaving the planet.

…

Pugalo and Zyrus stared at one another in an empty space. Both of them needed some time to think things over.

<I wish to know your honest thoughts…>

The remaining half of Pugalo’s sentence didn’t need to be said. Either it’d submit to Zyrus or both would perish together.

Zyrus was quite sure of his assumption. Wouldn’t it be a joke if he died by someone invading his will while he was the one who’d initiated the contact?

Regardless of that, his goal was to convince Pugalo and get the scarecrow field boss as a subordinate. It was a crucial piece in the next part of his plan.

The answer was obvious. He wouldn’t stoop so low as to betray his own thoughts and deceive someone into becoming his subordinate. A husk of Pugalo was better than the living one who didn’t have the guts to accept the reality.

“…whatever. If you want to hear my thoughts, then so be it.”

<Straightforward indeed.>

“I’m sure you’re expecting someone to condemn your choice or perhaps seek justice on behalf of the ones you’ve killed?”

<…>

“Before I continue, be honest. What are your own thoughts on the matter? What do you want to hear?”

Zyrus’s words proved that he didn’t care what Pugalo thought either way. He was simply curious.

<Being indifferent would be the neutral and boring answer. I’d prefer to negotiate if that were the case. If you were a righteous being and scolded me for my actions, then I’d rather perish alongside you. And if you were a worse scum than me, then I’d follow you without hesitation>

Pugalo’s answer was blatantly suggestive. It wanted someone who could lift the guilt and burden on its heart.

This was yet another test.

But, it was a pity that Zyrus wasn’t exactly a nice guy.

“You’re thinking too highly of yourself. You’re strong, but when it comes down to it, you’re nothing but an idiot. Maybe even worse.”

Pugalo didn’t know how to feel after being called out like that. It expected something like a devil or a heartless monster, but this…

“Just to be clear, I’m not saying this to affect your emotions. It’s the plain hard truth no matter how you look at it. You think they didn’t know what the ‘ore’ was? No one knew the so-called earth spirits were about to be born? What a joke.”

<Wh-what do you mean?>

Pugalo was deeply unsettled by his remark. Zyrus’s words were shaking the very foundation of its existence.

“I’ve seen the past with your eyes, and I can tell that you’re taking their intelligence for granted. Perhaps they didn’t know about the impending birth of the spirits, but what about after figuring out the purpose of the ‘ore’- or in your words, the hearts?”

<Then why->

“Why did they kill knowing all that? Heh, why wouldn’t they? An unknown species stronger than them was about to be born, right under their asses. What do you think they’d do? Negotiate? Subjugation? Peaceful cooperation? Too many risks. Any half-competent ruler wouldn’t take the risk.”