Assemble. It was a common term in South Korea. There would be some who associated the word with the first chapter of the physics textbook they vigorously studied as a student. However, most men would immediately think back to their days in the military. Morning roll call. Move to the cafeteria. Assemble for training and work Evening roll call. They spent their entire day getting into assembles over and over again. Thus, the memories of their time in the military were tinged with trauma for many veterans.
But to the elementals residing in this range, the assemble order Lloyd, a human from South Korea, issued was mysterious enigma. And so, gathered at the sixth highest peak of the range, the six high-level elementals gazed at each other with confusion in their eyes.
"Oh, rock elemental," said the pine tree elemental. "It has been a while."
"It's been a while, yes, Pine Tree Elemental. Where is Heavy Snow?" asked the rock elemental.
"There." The pine tree elemental pointed to a side. "Frost Moss. Icicle. Crevasse. Everyone's here."
"I guess I am the last one to arrive," said the rock elemental with a sigh.
"Perhaps."
"I do not know if I will be able to look the elemental king in his face."
"It's fine," comforted the pine tree elemental. "This is the first time the elemental king summoned us all to one place."
"Indeed," said the rock elemental, feeling a little better. "This has never happened before. I wonder why he summoned us all."
"Probably because of the humans," said the pine tree elemental, the guardian of all needleleaf trees in the Pantara Range. "Humans recently arrived and wreaked havoc on the place."
"Ah. That was difficult for me, too. They pushed away two peaks and widened the rift between them by force." "Awful, really. I presume the elemental king is furious because of it."
"You have a point. This marks the biggest event since the range came to be."
"Event...? More like a disaster," corrected the pine tree elemental.
"Right. It was a disaster."
The pine tree elemental and the rock elemental sadly nodded, sharing similar sentiments on the situation. They joined the others in waiting for the elemental king to appear. After much waiting, they were finally met with the elemental king. However, the king was not Pantalasa, the one they had been waiting for.
Grab!
"Whew...! My back, goodness. I should have chosen another location," said the voice as a hand popped and grabbed onto the edge of the cliff from below. Soon, the face of a human soaked in sweat emerged. He climbed up the peak with great struggle, seemingly flushed red from being out of breath.
The high-level elementals clamped their mouths in surprise and dismay as a human appeared. No one knew how to react. Everyone stared blankly at the human.
But the attitude of the human, Lloyd, showed was outlandishly different from theirs. After collecting his breath with a simple "Whew!" he dusted off the snow on his clothes and straightened them before flashing a grin at the elementals. "You all kindly showed up early for assembly!"
His manner of speech was too laid back. He seemed to have expected their reaction. At that moment, the high- level elementals were in a state of shock. Was it because of the relaxed and brazed attitude of the human who suddenly appeared in front of them? No. It was because they felt the power of the elemental king from him!
Impossible!
His humanity was undeniable. No matter where they looked, he was a human with two arms and legs. However, there was no denying the power of the elemental king within him. The elementals could clearly feel it.
How's this possible? I mean, is it even possible?
All the elementals were in disbelief. This was against all common sense. It was illogical. How could there be a human elemental king? And yet, such an absurd existence was right in front of them, slowly coming toward their direction.
"What are you all doing there? Do you plan on dazing out all day after putting in the effort to assemble here?" asked Lloyd with a mischievous smile.
Lloyd's question jostled them out of trance. The first one to come to his senses was the rock elemental. "Human! What are you?!"
"What else?" Lloyd drawled. "I am the elemental king of this range. Is that not obvious?"
"No, I mean! How? Where is our elemental king?"
"Your elemental king? You mean Pantalasa?"
"Yes! Pantalasa, our ruler and guardian of the range! Where did he go to while there's a human like you emitting his power?!"
"Oh, he's on vacation," replied Lloyd casually.
"What...?" the rock elemental stopped in shock.
Lloyd's lips curled up meaningfully. "I'm serious. He said he found a cooler place that's cooler and cozier than here. So, he told me he wanted to take a break for a while."
"How long..."
"For a few decades. He said he'll return once I die."
The rock elemental gaped in disbelief.
"Honestly, we have to give him that. I heard his story, and it's pitiful. He has been working for millions of years without taking a single break. Isn't that so sad? Imagine how much he would have wanted to rest. Besides, I heard a few decades is nothing for you all."
"That's true, but-"
"So what, you can't accept me as the elemental king?" challenged Lloyd.
"I can't!" the rock elemental yelled in response to Lloyd's provocative question, but he was not alone. Everyone did, some even floating their bodies in the air in a threatening manner or exuding cold energy. The message was clear, and Lloyd knew what it meant.
"Tsk. That's it? You can't accept me as your elemental king because I'm a human." Lloyd chuckled, having expected this to happen. He figured their reaction was only obvious.
I mean, if a company I worked for my whole life lost their president and a cat randomly appeared one day and said, "Meow! I'm your president starting today!" No one would accept the change.
Not in a million years. Lloyd thought the situation was pretty much the same right now.
And that's why I only assembled the high-level elementals.
Getting accepted by the elementals was an obstacle that needed to be cleared before Lloyd could command the elementals within range, even though he was fortunate enough to inherit the powers of the elemental king.
Imagine how many elementals are in this range. It'd be a waste of time to call for each one of them and get their recognition. That'd be too inefficient.
As such, Lloyd decided to round up only the high-level elementals as the rest under them would follow accordingly.
The elementals are all put into a strict ranking system, which includes the elemental king, high-level, intermediate-level, and low-level. It's similar to how it is in the military, meaning you only have to properly educate the highest ranks.
After that, the remaining work would go off without a hitch. The high ranks would vent their frustrations out on those below them. Then, those individuals would then repeat the cycle to the ranks below them.
Until the lowest soldier anonymously reports to the commanders. But there's nothing to worry about that here. No one can report things anonymously.
This was Lloyd's justification for calling in only the most powerful elementals. His recently acquired rank made it simpler for him to issue the summoning order in his heart, from which it spread like text messages. With a grin on his face, he considered the purpose and meaning of the call, saying, "I know you cannot accept me as your elemental king, but I have some things to tell you as your rightful ruler. I do not work with those who do not listen to me, so I am going to give you a choice. Accept me as your king or deny me and bid your life as an elemental farewell."
Everyone fell into silence.
"Silent treatment? That's how you're responding."
Once again, everyone remained silent. They simply glowered at Lloyd in defiance.
Lloyd, on the other hand, smiled more suspiciously as though he had anticipated this and therefore arrived with a secret weapon. "First, you," he said, pointing to the pine tree elemental that was displaying aggression due to anxiety. "Your body, that is, your home address is the biggest and oldest pine tree at the peak of the timberline in the direction of the ridge. I can see it. Yes, I am right. I will beat you up first."
Lloyd then smiled and raised his hand, which was holding a shovel.
Kaboom! The shovel's mana blast shot high into the sky and disappeared from view after lighting a corner. Next moment...
"Ack!" the pine tree elemental lurched forward and fell, glaring at Lloyd with pain. "What have you done to my body?!"
"What do you think?" Lloyd smiled nonchalantly. "I cut a branch of your tree."
"H-How?!"
"How else? My knight did after I sent a signal."
The pine tree elemental gave him an agitated expression. The branch the human broke had been one he was the proudest of and especially cherished and cared for due to its exceptionally beautiful and trim appearance. However, it was cut off without hesitation by the henchmen Lloyd sent out in advance. The elemental angrily questioned how this could happen.
"This is just the start, and I can tell from your eyes that you figured that out already. This will make things easier for us," Lloyd merely said, pulling a brazen face. "Do you want me to use your tree trunk for construction? How about letting it go for just a few decades?"
The pine tree elemental let out an appalled "Eek." The offer was clearly a threat veiled in a proposal. Take it or perish. There were only two options. The elemental thought over it for a while. Then, Lloyd dangled a sweet offer in front of it.
"Think about it," came Lloyd's voice to allure the pine tree elemental. "I'm not asking for something grand. Just accept me as your king since I already have the authority for it. Accept me as I am."
The pine tree elemental continued to think without saying anything.
"Still don't feel like it? Because I'm a human? What are you? Xenophobes? No, right? And besides, it's not like I'm going to order anything outrageous," urged Lloyd.
"But you destroyed the peak-"
"That was unavoidable, and that's why I'm asking your help here. Some help with the weather and in difficult areas during the work."
“...”
"But I promise you that no human will ever set foot in the areas outside the construction area. I give you my word. This won't be harmful to you. Can't we reach an agreement?"
“...”
"Well," said Lloyd feigned wistfulness, "If you still don't feel like it, you can always say goodbye to your elemental life and become a construction material."
The pine tree elemental scowled at the thought.
This time, Lloyd's gaze moved to Elemental Icicle. "And you, Elemental Icicle. You're relieved now because you think I won't be able to make good use of you since you're ice, no?"
The icicle elemental, who was closely watching over the situation, flinched.
Lloyd flashed an evil smile. "You have my promise that you won't be safe even if you're an icicle. What's your future aspiration?"
"What?" The icicle elemental asked.
"Do you like beef soup? Clear soup? Or spicy soup?"
“...”
"What do you want to be? Which option would be the most rewarding death for you?"
Gulp. The icicle elemental took a deep breath, and it dawned on everyone present that the human's threats were not a lie or an exaggeration. They were real and serious. In other words, they were backed into a corner by a complete madman with no common sense. The elementals exchanged glances with one another, and after a brief debate session, they made a decision.
"Fine. We will accept you as our ruler." They all then bowed at Lloyd. Just a few decades like this. Keep their heads low. That was the price of not being extinguished.
Lloyd smiled. "Great. You're making the right choice. Okay, then. It's time to sprint to celebrate this moment." "Eh?" Everyone said in unison.
"I said," Lloyd said in a clear voice, "Sprint. Touch the rock over there. The first five will get a special pardon for resisting me back there. The last one to come, however... You better be prepared."
"I don't get what's happening..." The elementals' facial expressions shook.
Lloyd's face hardened into a smile. He knew that these elementals' obedience was fleeting and superficial.
Eventually, they would try to rebel and take control of Lloyd. Therefore, the time had come for him to establish a permanent order, one that would make it easier for him to manage them. "You all have attitude issues? Slack around like this, and you will end up last."
When they finally understood the situation, the race started. That was when Lloyd truly became the elemental king of the range, with thousands of elementals submitting to him.
