The Crusader walked down the empty plains, his mind up in the air as he struggled to process what he had just seen. That horrific scene of that one man chomping and gnawing at that piece of meat while the victim was busy crying silently in pain truly dug at his heart.

He could not understand. Why were these people forced to undergo such a thing? Why had God not done anything to help protect his flock? He could not imagine the Lord allowing such a heinous sight to continue, he would have done something, anything to provide a meal and drink for his people.

No, more than that. He had to have done something, anything to provide some means of subverting the corruption of the land. Something to provide bread and wine, anything.

He did not get why such a situation came to exist. He knew things had gone wrong, horribly wrong, but never did he expect the people to be so far gone as well. They had not a single care in the world when they sunk their teeth into the flesh of a still living creature. He could understand the need for survival, but not to the point of being complete and utter savages.

Was this the devil’s work? Were the people the way they were because the corruption of the lands came and touched them in the heads as well? Could it be that all of them here were forced to stay not because they were under some misfortune, but because they themselves were sinners stuck to repent for some unknown crime they had committed before?

That would explain why there were so many monsters walking about. That could explain why there didn’t seem to be any prime vegetation period, or the fact that almost everyone was miserable.

But still, things did not add up. What about Martha? She was not one that deserved to be in hell or in suffering. After all, she was someone that clearly had a good head on her shoulders and seemed quite respectful to most people. The chief was someone that seemed like a good man, who was only looking out for the good of his people and doing everything he could to help others survive despite all his downfalls.

He did not know. He could not so shamelessly label everyone present in these lands a heretic for no reason, for they all seemed to be good people stuck in miserable situations far beyond their control.

His heart was torn and his head was muddled. He could not concentrate, whether that be from his lack of rest and rising hunger or perhaps from the horrific sight he had just witnessed. Try as he might, he simply could not find a reason or an excuse to justify anything that would cause such an event.

Then he remembered what God had told him.

That was right. The usurper. This was all that bastard’s fault! The devil himself was to blame, not these poor souls. No, they were all being forced to march to the same thought process of that monster. They were being corrupted, warped into becoming possible minions!

Perhaps the meat was causing their minds to turn away and their hearts to turn into stone. That was it! The corruption itself was creating this mess, the origin of all of this was the devil.

He was the one who subverted God. He was the one who caused this whole mess. He was the one who was forming this darkness to brew in these people’s hearts. After all, if these people were fine eating these demons, then that means they would be fine eating their fellow men, or even worse.

He shuddered. He hadn’t seen any acts of cannibalism in the village nor seen any signs of it as of yet, but that might be because he hadn’t been as attentive as he could have been.

He shook his head. No, that couldn’t accuse them of such a heinous crime. No, the only kind of person with the qualifications to do such a thing were God and his anointed priests. He did not have the purview to have such a task, he–

He paused. He stared at the sight of smoke in the distance. Worry overcame his thoughts as the smog got thicker and thicker, almost intensively so.

A fire? Was someone out there, trying to ask for assistance? Could this be an arson attempt?

Whatever the case, he knew what he had to do right here and now. Without a single bit of hesitation, he dashed towards the source of all that smoke. He was thankful for this opportunity, the right to get his mind away from those negative thoughts on those villagers.

He kept on going. He had to admit that he was delighted to not have to face any kind of monsters on his path, but at the same time, he was a bit suspicious. After all, back when he was walking around on his own, he had encountered several monsters when he entered. Once at the forest fighting a pair, then helping out those hunters wipe out that swarm.

So that begged the question: where on earth were all the monsters that were supposed to show up to attack him? There were constant reports of how hostile and constant these creatures were, so why were they suddenly no longer present?

He rushed further, before finally coming to a clearing that was close to a hill and a forest. He froze upon coming across the scene in front of him.

The source of the smoke was a giant green flame that came from numerous black logs all stacked up together haphazardly, all covered with giant stones to act as a barrier. Loads of skeletons surrounded the entire area, ranging from small to outright absurdly large. However, that was not what made him freeze.

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No, the reason for that was because of the man. He was tall, terrifyingly so. The chainmail wrapped all over his body and the fur coat on his shoulders helped accentuate his fearful visage, along with the giant axe that laid by his side. That very same man was busy ripping his teeth into one of the beast’s throats, gulping down the blood that was oozing from the wound.

The creature whined and struggled, but it could not do much as the giant had a boot right on its arms, preventing it from moving away. He drank for a little while, before lifting his head with a satisfied grin. Then, and only then, did he slam the foot down onto the creature’s head, causing bone fragments and flesh to go flying all around.

Then, the corpse rotted right underneath his feet as he laughed, before wiping his mouth and picking up the axe. He stopped, before putting on his chain helmet and turning towards the Crusader. His eyes were full of glee and joy as he looked down at the Crusader, blood pooled around the helmet and splattered throughout his chest.

The Crusader could only grimace as he stood there, not moving a single inch and refusing to give any quarter.

“A rat!” The giant laughed, before hefting the axe over his shoulder. “So, sneaking up on others, eh? No, more than that, you aren’t one of those creatures then! You must be human!”

“Pardon?” The Crusader blinked, not expecting that kind of response. “Then, that must mean–”

“Yes.” The giant stood up taller, and the Crusader could tell the man was smiling behind his helmet.

For a moment, the Crusader felt relieved. Yes, he felt a bit of joy at the fact that he had found someone that had come from the same world that he came from.

And yet. Something about the situation seemed to make him pause. Something about this giant made him halt and feel concerned. Something wasn’t right at all.

The way he drank blood from the creature and seemed to revel in it. The fact that he was surrounded by multiple bones meant he had been murdering without a single bit of exhaustion. The fact that he himself seemed to stay in a combative stance instead of being relaxed despite his first approach of diplomacy.

Something wasn’t right.

He couldn’t feel himself relaxing either. He couldn’t shake off that sensation of fear, that dark primal feeling that made him take a step back from the giant.

“You…” The Crusader managed to get out, “How did you get here? Are you a man of these lands?”

“One from here?” The giant mused, before rearing back his back and letting out a roaring laugh that echoed throughout the entire plains. “Haha! What a good joke! There aren’t any people in these forsaken cursed grounds, only these galcos that keep on throwing themselves at me!”

So this giant hadn’t visited any villages? Wait, those words of his, that meant–

“You mean to tell me this entire time, you’ve been doing nothing but slaughtering the creatures?”

“One needs to stave off boredom somehow.” The giant sneered. “However, they’ve begun to bore me. They’re all the same, stupid and instinctual. None of them can get my blood pumping anymore, especially when they all rot away the moment they get killed. I can’t collect any good trophies like that, even if they leave behind bones and skulls. No, the only thing they’re good for is having a laugh at this point.”

Those words brought more chills down the Crusader’s spine.

“In fact, I have to thank you.”

“Thank me? Why?” He took even more steps back, but the giant didn’t seem too keen on letting him go. He sneered and came closer to the Crusader, placing his other hand onto the axe and hefting it in front of him in a battle stance.

“Because now I know you’re more capable of thought compared to these worthless beasts.” The giant chuckled darkly as he kept coming closer. “You’re dressed for a fight. I like that. We can come at each other now, fight to our heart’s desire until one of us falls over dead.”

“Wait!” The Crusader pulled out his sword and pointed it at the approaching threat, his voice seemingly failing him at this time. “There is no need for this wanton bloodshed! We have a goal together, no? If you are here, then God has chosen you to help these inhabitants! If we are to fight, then we are doing nothing more than committing blasphemy and–”

“Why should I care?”

And that made the Crusader stop. He paused in his tracks, looking at the giant who uttered such heretical words.

“What did you just say?”

“I asked why I should care, coward,” the giant snickered, “I haven’t bothered trying to remember why that man brought me here. All I remember is his mention of becoming a god. In that case, that means you’re a competitor. Someone that stands in the way of me achieving a greater position in the world. Although, even then, that wouldn’t matter. After all, there’s no reason for me to have put a spineless worm like you into the grave.”

The Crusader didn’t respond. He didn’t say anything to that.

His thoughts focused on those despicable words. The attitude that the giant had, his way of thinking that was so inherently wrong and disgusting. The way he seemed to enjoy murdering, loving the thrill of slaughtering.

Ah. If this bastard found the village, he would definitely go on a rampage and murder everyone inside.

Oh. This heretic was given a chance by God and had chosen to spit on that offer to take on the temptation of the Devil.

This thing in front of the Crusader was a heretic–no, calling them that was an insult to all humans out there. This thing in front of him was a demon. A true monster that deserved to be put in the ground.

He didn’t hesitate. He swung first, launching the first strike towards the giant’s neck.

To his annoyance, the bastard swatted the attack with his left arm. At that, the monster roared with joy, then reared the axe back.

“Excellent! Come at me, fool! Let us see who remains standing at the end!”