Warlord Rex wriggled around like a maggot as his muffled voice tingled my ears. This man had a head of black hair that was spiked like a porcupine and his eyes were naturally narrow, making him appear as a villain. The two women by his side were pretending not to be there, likely hoping that their already negligible presence would not be detected. I applaud their efforts to stay quiet at a time like this. The Warlord, however…

Ignoring his insistent racket, I spoke over him. “I will watch over this pitiful city battle against the Liberators. You Marauders are to provide me a spectacle fit for a god. Train your men until their bones are mush and their hands are calloused. If you were to run away, know that you will incur my wrath. Ignoring these words will lead your city to ruin, like the Demonic Dojo. I’m sure you’ve heard tales of its demise, correct?”

Warlord Rex relinquished his hopeless resistance and nodded his head vigorously. I released a part of [Blood Manipulation] just so that he could speak. The demon opened his mouth quickly.

“A-Are you responsible for what happened to the prestigious Demonic Dojo?!”

“Why does a rat like you care about that?”

“Whispers from other Warlords and demon denizens have caught my ears, informing that they found dried husks in the Demonic Dojo! What remained were cracked skin, blackened organs, and no blood left in their bodies. Even Tisha, a Transcendent-Rank martial artist, had been found dead in her quarters! Few can defeat those of the Transcendent Realm. The amount that could be counted on just a single hand! The only ones who could defeat such a person are Warlords Mori, Zano, leaders of other dojos, or the gods!”

Oh? News sure traveled quickly if they’re already aware of the Demonic Dojo’s demise. While it is true I am responsible for what happened at the Demonic Dojo, I do not feel an ounce of remorse. Absorbing the mana and Qi from those demons did well to satisfy. My current level of accomplishment directly results from the efforts of the students and instructor at the Demonic Dojo. That place was a conglomerate of energy that one with powers such as I was itching to take advantage of. Demos probably set up the First Stage as the Demonic Dojo in favor of me. Either that or he had something else in mind. It is quite hard to read that man sometimes.

“I-If you’re here,” Warlord Rex continued, “then will A-Arago share the same fate as the Demonic Dojo?!”

Silently, I turned around and leaped out of his bed, moving closer to the middle of his quarters. With a snap of a finger, I released the three mortals from their bindings. Their fixed bodies turned flexible, and their haggard breaths became relaxed as they moved their limbs slowly. In haste, Warlord Rex jumped out of bed and donned a feathered robe from a nearby stand, and hurried over to me.

“If I may be so bold, oh great deity, but may you please reconsider-“

I held a hand up to silence the mortal. “Warlord Rex, I grow weary of this mask you put on. You cannot deceive my eyes and ears. You and all of Arago loathe the gods, yet here you are kissing up to me. Have you no shame?”

“Whatever do you mean by that? Arago is just like the rest of the Demonic Continent! We respect and worship the gods!”

“If so, then why aren’t you kneeling with your head bowed? You speak of respect, yet I see none in front of me.”

Warlord Rex took a step back when I strode proudly over to him.

“Furthermore, the only worshipping your people do is directed toward their leader. I see statues of you all around Arago, and none resembling any of the gods. I do not see Ares of the Greek pantheon, or Sekhmet of the Egyptian pantheon. Hell, not even a lower deity like Hachiman of the Japanese pantheon is present. You demons enact war to please war deities, though I see not even an inkling of that here. Do you think of me as a fool, Warlord Rex?”

The demon’s face darkened as he clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Such pests…”

I glowered at the man. “Did you just call me a pest?”

“Yes, I called you a pest. You and all of you ‘gods’ are pests. Why should I belittle myself in front of you guys? Don’t make me laugh. You prideful gods only see us mortals as dogs meant to serve under you. The only reason these pathetic Warlords lick your boots is because of fear. As for this mask you speak of, I’m 100% certain this applies to many demons. You gods are just too narrow-minded to see through it!”

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…Look at this little ant huffing and puffing. Throwing a tantrum like a disobedient kid really grinds my gears. This view the people of Arago possess is what led to their downfall in the past. There are a multitude of reasons the Liberators are dead set on conquering Arago, such as fertile land and resources. The biggest of them all is to cull what they say is a ‘warped view of the esteemed deities’. The Liberators are known throughout the Demonic Continent as the saviors of religion, preaching that without the gods, mortals would not exist. They claim the gods handle certain phenomena, such as bountiful harvests, blessed rainfalls, and finding cures for diseases. These Liberators are right and wrong at the same time.

“I care little about your woes. Do as I ask, or you will face dire consequences. I will say no more.”

“H-Hold on! I’m not done with-“

The wind was too strong for Warlord Rex's voice to reach me as I left his chambers. I quickly departed from the palace grounds and returned to the peacefulness of the night. Scaling Arago’s walls, I found myself on the east side of the city, perched on top of the parapet. The guards on this side were swiftly dealt with just a flick of a finger, crumbling on top of each other. I peered down at the moat and settled my gaze at the Wandering Woodlands. The expansive forest looked back with its lustful gaze, alluring me with the scent of blood. A recent battle had taken place within, and the breeze was blowing west toward Arago.

It was time for me to increase my Stats within the Wandering Woodlands. Almost a day has passed since I’ve entered the Second Stage, and I have finally completed my first goal of interacting with the Liberators and Marauders. If things go according to plan, they will begin their battle on the sixth night. To pass the time, I’ll be hunting in the Wandering Woodlands. I do not need food or sleep as long as there’s enough sustenance gained from the corpses. As long as there are nutrients in the blood, I can go by just fine.

Taking one last glance back at Arago, I stood up and bounded toward the Wandering Woodlands. Now over the moat, a dirt trail led to the foot of the forest. Standing at the forest edge, I stretched my limbs preparing for what’s to come. After that, I closed my eyes and activated [Mana Field]. A tugging sensation entered my chest, and a circular dome had erected from deep within. Confirming that the mastery had activated, I opened my eyes. The fauna in the Wandering Woodlands had changed from its usual color of green and brown to different shades of blue. Flowers and trees varied, from baby-blue to lapis. This applied to not only plants, but to animals too. Depending on how much mana these sources of life possess is how dim or bright they appear in [Mana Field]. The radius of the mastery increases when the level rises. As of now, [Mana Field] is at level four, and the max distance is one kilometer.

Scanning my surroundings with [Night Vision], I entered the Wandering Woodlands. Twigs and leaves crunched as I ventured through the landscape. I ignored the scampering small fry of the understory, only diverting my attention to creatures that catch my attention. Absorbing creatures with low mana wasn’t worth it. If I were to take that path, it would be akin to taking only a step in a marathon. Little to no progress would be made, and the clock was ticking. Hunting big game is the only option that makes the most sense.

While navigating, I passed by many nocturnal species. A horned owl settled on top of a thick branch. It was a creature with a length of 36 feet and a five-foot wingspan. A small horn protruded on top of its forehead, and two yellow eyes glared down at the forest floor. Its feathers were a mixture of black and gray, perfect camouflage in the dark. It is capable of carrying out a discreet descent upon its prey and transporting it to a secure spot.

Another species called the blood badger was hiding inside a hole within a tree. The blood badger is a creature of three feet with a burgundy coat. The cause for that is the creature bathing in the blood of those it kills in order to alter its smell to coincide with that creature. When predators catch a whiff of that scent, the blood badger waits in its burrow, biding its time until the unsuspecting creature gets close enough. After that, the blood badger springs into action and attempts to kill its prey in one shot, usually by using its vicious fangs to bite through the skull and brain. The demons call this creature one of the most aggressive animals in existence.

While the blood badger is quite the fascinating creature, it is not on my radar. I need a creature on the same level as a wyvern, or by some miracle, an adult dragon. I highly doubt I’d be able to find that sort of creature in the Wandering Woodlands. Those solitary monsters are only found in the most dangerous of places in all of Earthiens, like the Glacial Cliffs in North Osmen, Desolate Sea Cavern near Noblela, or even the Volcanic Vents southeast of the Demonic Continent. They occupy every corner of the world, and it’s almost impossible for mortals to even step in their territory. If I could, I would make a beeline toward the Volcanic Vents, but I don’t have the time…

Whilst I was in deep contemplation, I heard a faint rustling noise. Upon looking towards the origin, a multitude of blue clustered close to a tall shrub situated between trees. A golden coat with black spots was visible over the shrubbery, and a long tail was raised. A massive backside heaved as its body swayed, and a low growl was released. I couldn’t see what creature it was as it was hidden, but with how much mana it contained inside its body, it was one of the creatures I was hoping to find here.

“And here comes my first victim.”

Using [Blood Manipulation], I used some of my blood to fashion a weapon in my hand. A firm grip was in my possession, and a chain connected to two swords was formed. With both hands now armed, I trudged over to the oblivious beast.