Chapter 201 – Despondent

Five years have passed since the world witness the destruction of the Livia Continent, turning it into a radiated desolated wasteland. In the span of five years, the Empire of Valor was able to eradicate the monster plagued lands with a constant bombardment of the thunder of God.

The whole world could only succumb to the overbearing power of the Empire of Valor. The Empire could not advance further and do so would lead to implosion. Thus they accepted many people from different parts of the world to migrate to their cities.

He was one of them. He had skills in baking so he was able to work in a bakery. He worked hard to learn the Empire’s language. He also poured his heart into showing his skills. Indeed, the people of the bakery didn’t give him trouble, in fact, they lauded his hard work.

But in this life, there was no such thing as smooth sailing. To gain the recipe for the bread he was making, he was framed and was stripped of his possessions. All he built and what he did go to naught. He was left to pay fines for crimes he did not do. He spent the last five years paying debts.

He became a debt-ridden man. But he was somehow able to endure the tribulations. He was able to live his days but stuck in a limbo of depression and emptiness. To put it into words he was working, but the lights inside him were broken.

His dull cold eyes became blander than it should be. The Empire of Valor was not a lenient place. It was a society of nepotism and cruel working hours. It was a place where anyone could only move like an automaton, a slave to society.

He could hear the broadcast sounding out. He could hear the propaganda being churned out like water. It was ceaseless and endless. There was no end to it, becoming so troublesome to hear. He was used to hearing these broadcasts. He was able to listen to them every single day.

It felt like someone was digging a hole in his head. The propaganda was unstopping and anyone who dared to sneer or scowl would be penalized.

No one wanted to be penalized. They could only bow their heads and go on with their lives. The Empire of Valor has succeeded in destroying its enemies. The Empire also grew, the technological prowess of the Demesne merged with the Empire of Valor.

The Empire was heavily armed. The Empire has the ability to dispatch heavy forces. And they have the ability to wipe out any city or nation they desire. The Empire was a domineering and the Emperor rules with a fair iron fist. As long one works hard, one would get benefits.

But the migrants of the Empire were treated badly. There was a huge bias against the migrants. There was racism all over the place, not to mention that the cultural differences caused numerous troubles.

He felt this difference. He knows that he wouldn’t be so treated harshly if there was no discrimination. He knew that the world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. He knows that it wouldn’t be so welcoming. He knew that, yet he still feels depressed over the fact that despite his single-minded thoughts. He was unable to endure greatly. The pressure and frustration crumbled him badly.

Still, it was not all bad luck and misfortunes. Amidst the tribulations, there were good men and women that would help out. They were only a few but it allowed him to continue living despite the world looking so gray for him.

He opened his eyes and smelled the odor of the back alley. He was in this alley he could not remember. On his hand was a bottle of whiskey, it was empty, there was a trace of liquid in the mouth of the bottle, but it was empty. He stood up. He sat with his back arched and grabbed his head. He felt an unbearable headache. He tried to stand up. He swayed from left to right as he threw the bottle of whiskey into a trash can.

A figure appeared around the alley. He looked at him and shouted. “Fucking drunkard, go home already!”

He glared at the figure and nodded his head. He used the walls of the alley to slowly walk. His head was clouded. He vomited and wiped his mouth. He continued walking down the alley until he spotted an intersection. He waited for the cars to pass before continuing on, taking a left, and then a right to a building lined street.

The buildings were made of brick and mortar. The roofs were tiled and almost all of them were two floors high. He glanced at the buildings before continuing to this desolate alley where he took a stride to this old building. He reached into his pocket and fished out a key. He put the key inside the knob, turned it and pulled it out as he climbs up the stairs.

There were two young women chatting. They looked at him before continuing their chat. He did not mind them. He turned to where his apartment was and entered inside. His apartment was not messy. There was little furniture but the kitchen was furnished.

The room has no strange odor. There were no clothes strewn everywhere. There were no bottles of whiskey lying around the place. He didn’t want to clean his apartment so he didn’t make it dirty. It was his heaven so he didn’t make it dirty.

He ambled towards the bathroom. He leaned on the sink and looked at the mirror. The mirror showed a grizzled young man with a short beard. His eyes were dull and bland. His hair reached his neck, but it was tied by a rubber band. There was a despondent aura around him.

It has been five years since the fall of the Livia Continent. He witnessed the ‘thunder of God’ hammer the continent into submission. He spent five full years of misery. He slowly accepted it. He was no heaven-sent hero. He was just a guy that was a victim of a spatial distortion.

He didn’t ask for any of this. That’s why he could do nothing but endure his situation.

But looking at his own face, anger swelled up inside him. He laughed helplessly as he looked down and then glared at the mirror, punching the sink in anger!

“This is nothing but a dog’s life damn it!" Joshua shouted.