I planted mines all the way through my retreat and burned every bridge behind me.

A dark shadow loomed over the conference hall, pressing the teakwood table cold. Faceless countries were silent behind their masks. Speechless iron statues, every knock became a dull ring.

America crackled: "Proposal!" slapping down on a pile of papers.

Silence bulged, swelled, and twisted inside the shadows, turning into reptiles, into writhing creatures.

Iran let out a gurgling sound and bowed down, desperately trying to stop the coughing, his hand covering his mouth.

America leaned over Iran, his icy stare sweeping through the speechless countries: "Vetos?"

A black shadow erupted from the black blood and Iran coughed even more.

He shuddered, curling up under the black shadow, and America pulled out a ruthless smile, raising his arms as if he's the king: "- Who else!"

Insolent trash, useless trash, all the weak and useless, kneel!

Sharp teeth gnawing through steel and iron, the gavel knocked down, "Pass!"

Iran prostrated himself on the table amidst the earth-shattering applause, and finally, pressed down the sign with his name on it and rolled off the table.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————

"Veto!" The bald eagle's sharply etched gaze scrutinized the attendees like it was trying to peel a layer of the souls from them, and America raised his voice to repeat, "Veto!"

The fifty stars on the star-spangled flag twisted together, emitting a brilliant fire.

China interlocked his fingers and stared at America expressionlessly, "Veto." Behind him were bottomless darkness and flowing red.

The dozens of iron statues sitting in a circle around the conference table turned their heads to look at America, the eerie cold light in their eyes looking back at him.

America glanced around, golden pupils flashing sinister light, like snakes, like wolves, like hyenas, behind the clicking mouth devouring gold coins.

Swallowing power, chewing ambition, I grow fangs, to hunt the world.

One by one, the masked countries began to make muffled sounds of gurgling, low growls coming from their throats, spewing ink.

Long spiky vines snaked around his ankles, tangled torso, twisting and growing, thrusting into the heart of America, chaining his hands.

China surveyed him, so were counties seated behind him. His eyes detached but strong. America did not move, waiting for the chains to tighten around him, waiting for it to bruise.

A piercing pain shot through blood vessels, into the nerves. America trembled, turning pale.

The countries whose faces could not be seen revealed a sharp smile, biting their nails and laughing strangely.

The proud bald eagle refused to lower its head.　　

Stand up straight, wait for the gold to fall, wait for the glory to return with the flames of war, tie ambition and strong desires to the chariot, unstoppable. Crush every inch of the world, live without being responsible to anyone, I finished clearing the way, and all these trash can go to hell for all I cared!

I will not lose. America spat out a mouthful of blood, the flowing red blotting into the papers.

I will not lose

I feel pain

I will not lose 

I feel lonely

I will not lose 

I feel sad

I will not lose--

The fire burned me.

　　America looked up in shock, China has been unknowingly approaching him, fingers clutching his cigar, the smoke burning out of it twisted, hovering in the air, blurring his golden-amber eyes.

Time seemed to have gone to slow motion, America watched China frown, saw him raising his hand, saw him sighing.

Suddenly, China's hand closed.

The crunching sound of chains breaking apart exploded between his ears, the chains and vines shattered into pieces from China's tugging. A hole was blown at the ceiling of the hall, daylight shined down on China's stunning eyes.

China held out his hand to him and called out to him, "Come!"

America's eyes were doubtful and uncertain, he lowered his head, pressed the defensiveness and alertness under his eyes, so he came.