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Human Outside, Demon Inside
Chapter 1 : Revival

Chapter 1 : Revival

It is said the First God have the mind and body of a human, power of a demon, and longevity of a dragon. At the end of his lifespan, he split himself into three new Gods. The Human God, Demon God, and Dragon God.

Each of them divide the world into their own territory, Human God took the lowlands on western part of the world, Demon God choose the central part filled with harsh environment and raging wildlife. Dragon god live in the mountainous area within eastern part of the world.

After another eternity, those three Gods also reach the end of their lifespan. Just as before, they create a new sentient being upon their deaths.

Human God create humans, while Demon God create demons, and Dragon god create dragons.

Human is the weakest of all the other race upon its creation. Human God create them to be as flexible as possible, capable of improvement based on their need. With a body without any specific advantages except the mind to make full use of their surroundings.

A demon are strong since birth, but instinct fill a lot of space in their brain and hindered their growth. Of all the other race, demon is the most diverse with at least twenty sub-race at its creation, each with their own unique characteristic and power similar to that of a beast. It is believed that is caused by Demon God particular fondness of the wildlife within his territory.

A dragon are blessed with the strongest body with extremely long lifespan, but their minds are also similar to that of a beast and unable to fully express their full power. Dragon is unique that they were created as Dragon God's pet before his demise, they are the only one who have seen the God with their own eyes. Although it's unknown whether there's a dragon who still live up to this day since then.

Each of the race have their own way of growth.

Human recognize their body weakness and strife to counter that by become exceptionally skilled with their equipment.

Demon with plenty of experience will eventually gain a new technique in addition of increase control of their strength.

Dragons on the other hand are will eventually gain a mind strong enough to fully control their body. Allowing them to unlock their full potential.

Both demons and dragons tend to become humanoid in body as their strength grows, as it allows them to fully use all of their strength without any limitations.

While humans who already have the best mind since birth will sometimes gave birth to several individuals capable of unique feats such as controlling things beyond their own body.

At first all three races live on their own without any contact with each other. But the humans and demons simply grow far too quickly, as their territory expands fight between them were inevitable.

But it seems Human God and Demon God have predicted this, between the west and central area of the world lie a span of forest with immense size, the anomaly Great Forest. Trees there grow at superb speed and capable of complete regeneration if not pulled out from the root.

Neither humans nor demons can clear an area fast enough before it was populated by trees again.

While the forest act as a giant buffer between demon and human territory, there's plenty of occurrence where a small group of demons manage to sneak past the forest and pillage on nearby human settlements.

Provoking human retaliation by erecting fortifications on the forest border to stop marauding demons from entering its territory.

There's several attempt from the humans to bring the fight on to demons turf instead, but most of them were weakened by the Great Forest and fall victim to the hands of the demons.

The demons who have gained fame on that battle went on to create their own tribe across the Great Forest, several of them crumble under the weight of time and become nothing but a small village.

There's one who've managed to gain authority and establish itself as majority owner of demon world, The Ga'ux Demon Kingdom led by Red'shar royal lineage. At first glance the kingdom's authority within the demon world seem to be solid, but demon is not a race who will be happy to be ruled by a weak king.

Right now the second Demon King of Ga'ux Kingdom are chased by his own vassal with nowhere to run. In his confused state, there's only one place he can go without being surrounded. And so he decided to enter the Great Forest on his own.

*******_______*******_______*******

The forest is thick, with bushes and rocks everywhere blocking my vision. I can't even see my own feet, yet I know it must've bled profusely from all the pebble I step on.

My ear hear a noise in front of me, another endless danger in this anomaly forest.

Just how long I been running?.

Since the rebellion it's been a month.

2 weeks since they break into my castle.

A week after I lose everything I ever have.

3 days since they found out my hideout and murder all retainers who've followed me from the castle.

10 hours since I entered this Great Forest to escape from my pursuers.

And now they finally manage to catch up to me.

I let out a small laughter, oh how the fate didn't favor me.

But I guess this isn't a bad place to die. Every revolution had to end with the monarch's head separated from his body.

The Great Demon King Mos'cua Red'shar have outlived his kingdom, only to fall shortly afterwards.

A wise king with proper judgments on his vassal feud, without knowing that most of the evidence were fabricated.

A powerful king who have double his kingdom territory size compared to his father reign, leaving grudges and revenge on his path of expansion.

A benevolent king who elevated fellow demons into important positions, only to have them betray him in his gravest time.

What a stupid king he was, listening to his advisor silver tongue until the last moment of his reign. Living in seclusion from the world, leaving all the kingdom matters to other people. Truly unworthy of someone called a king.

That's what Kingdom's Marshall Alexan'to Lo'tua told me when I ask him the reason of his rebellion.

But all of that is in the past, now I'm the most wanted person in the kingdom. Chase by everyone looking for glory and riches, and by devil's luck I finally meet one of them in my darkest time.

A group of goblin bandits against former king who have sold his armor for yesterday meal.

"Ah, take a look at that. Who would've known we would meet another gold pouch over here?."

"Right boss!, what a good day indeed!."

"To think we could have two ransom in a single day, at least they can console each other on their way back. Hahaha!!."

The three of them began to laugh at each other while moving closer towards me.

I draw my sword from its scabbard, pointing its edge against them. Three against one and my physical condition is not at it best, but I know I won't lose in terms of equipment. This sword was forged by the best dwarf blacksmith in my kingdom and made with highest quality material, it can easily slice any object imaginable, The Demon King's sword U'raul.

The bandits spread themselves apart and encircle me from three directions, leaving no space for me to retreat. Not that I still have any will to escape, this forest is my last hiding place. Either I will die here or be consumed by the forest beasts later.

One of them charge towards me with sword above his head, probably to test my capability before the other two attack me from behind.

I should count myself lucky this bandit charging head on like that, as long as I can see their attack I can parry them and proceed with the counterattack. It won't be that easy when they use feint and tricks to hit me from my blind spot.

He swing his sickle towards me, It's an overhead swing using the force of gravity to overwhelm the defender stance. I ready myself to parry it, both feet properly planted to the ground while holding U'raul horizontally to absorb the impact.

The clash between the weapons produce a high ringing sound in my ear. Both of my hands gripped as strong as I can on U'raul handle to make sure I don't let it go.

Strangely enough, the stress only last for a split second, the bandit sickle were unable to withstand U'raul sharpness, it was broken in two at the point of impact.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Confusion start to show on the bandit face, for he just lost his weapon in a single clash. I make use of this opportunity to swing my sword to his left shoulder, slicing past his light armor into the meat and bone as if it was butter.

The sword exit his body from right hip, cleanly splitting him into two pieces in the process.

The warm blood splash to my face, I wipe my eyes before changing my attention to the other two bandits. There's no more grin in their face, probably due to shock of losing one of their comrade in a bizarre fashion.

The bandits change their formation, now one of them is in front of me while the other one is on my back. The one in front gave a small nod to his ally before charging towards me.

He stop just before my sword reach and start to kick the dirt towards me. Protecting my eyes while jumping sideways to evade it, I was late to notice that the other bandits have been waiting for me. I swing my sword as fast as possible to parry his.

For a moment I thought his blade would crumble just as the previous bandit, but clearly this one is more experienced than the other goblin.

He angle his blade as to not clash with mine, barely grazing each other while heading towards my right hand. I try my best to evade it, but the headache from lack of sleep from the last few weeks stop me from moving.

And just like that, U'raul fell to the ground with my hand still holding it. The pain from my dismembered hand soon replace the headache.

Ah.., I can't even see clearly anymore. The fatigue welling up inside me ever since I left the castle have caught up to me. How many sleepless night I've spent running from those pursuers?, How many helping hands I've refused out of fear of betrayal?. I'm tired, too tired.

Staring at my dismembered hand at the ground, the corner of my eyes become red clogged with my own blood. My brain is sending a warning signal, the sensation of losing my minds in favor of instinct, surrendering myself to the desire inside me. Reminding myself of a dark past I can never forget.

Most demons was born with enhanced physique or additional body parts. As they grow older, naturally their power also gotten stronger. Some will learn to control their power, while others will be driven mad with it and become mindless beast.

Since I was young there's nothing in my life except training to be worthy as my father successor. Undergone harsh training together with my fellow siblings everyday to hone our power. However, one day that power went out of my control.

[Berserker's Blood]

The technique I gain after countless day of training. The power to make my body many times stronger than usual, truly becoming a god in battlefield. However, my mind are unable to cope with the pressure of sudden surge from this new power. I lose myself in rampage until the desire to destroy is fulfilled.

I don't want this kind of power...

When I finally regain control of my body, Countless inanimate bodies spread out in front of me. I recognize some of them, my siblings, unarmed civilians, and my father trusted advisors. Everyone died by my hands.

I was prepared for any kind of punishment, but my father thinks otherwise. He deem my power to be necessary to rein control of the kingdom after his passing. I was named as his heir, and the next leader of the kingdom should anything happen to him.

I spent my days in remorse and guilt. Is this what I want?, the power to kill anyone in my path without any regards?. I know the answer and what I had to do to correct it.

I spend my time trying to control this power, to stop the same thing from ever happening again. Delving myself to the maximum point of self control, until even my normal power is also compressed.

Slowly my body become adjust to the reduced power, my appearance change to something between human and demon.

Times passed by as I continue my to reform myself. My father is long gone, and now I lead the kingdom as his successor. This position is something I gained by with blood, I am not worthy to be a leader.

Yet my advisers refuse to listen, they said the kingdom will crumble if I abdicate myself, there's no one strong enough to continue the legacy.

And so I began my search for replacements. Giving key positions to anyone with worthy merit in hope they are capable to lead the kingdom. Who knows they decide to rebel instead of asking it nicely. But I guess this is also my long due punishment.

I close my eyes when the headache become unbearable, completing my [Berserker's Blood] activation. 100 years have passed since I start to learn how to control it, yet my fear have stopped me from ever testing it. Will I finally be able to control it?, or is my years spent in vain?.

The bandits notice something different about me, but at this point they are no longer able to retreat.

I charge towards them while swinging U'raul wildly with my left hand, their destruction is the only thing in my mind.

................

When the dust finally settled, I'm the only one moving within the vicinity. U'raul is stuck at one of the bandits chest, while the other bandits are bleeding from all the holes within his body.

Have I won?, there's a strange feeling of proud in my chest. The feeling of finally surpassing my lifelong fear.

The adrenaline slowly subside and left me with another feeling, it is pain caused by the bandits blades stabbed in my body, I think one of them have pierced my lungs. My dulled battle sense after spending countless years locked up in the castle seems to be affecting [Berserker's Blood] performance.

Not that I will ever use it again, now that I know I can control it.

My ears is ringing from the pain, I hear a bell sound somewhere within it, perhaps the sound of my death.

It took me a few more seconds to notice the source of that bell, a woman who is currently sitting a few meters from the bandits wagon. I do remember them saying having two ransom today, could this woman be their other hostage?.

I walk closer to her, perhaps to answer the last question in my mind before death.

The ground near the woman is wet with water and blood, in her hands is a baby who made no sound. It seems she tried to run away during my battle with the bandits, only to get into labor soon after.

Perhaps it's because there's no midwife to help her, or maybe because it is not meant to be. The baby is a stillborn, and the mother is trying her best to make the loudest sound possible with her bell to wake the baby from its eternal sleep.

One more soul lost today, another friend for my journey to the afterlife.

My body fall, there's no more power to stay up. Cold start to spread across my body.

Is this the end?, my eyelids felt heavy all of a sudden. Should I sleep?, will I woke up again?.

I have a confession before my death, I lied earlier about giving up on my life. In the face of death I tried to be brave and said that I've accepted my current situation.

The truth is I still want to do countless other things, I've spent too much of time correcting myself that I can't say I've properly lived my life. Yet my fate is the same as the baby, we withers before the full bloom.

Will both of us have another chance at life?. That thought cross my mind as I close my eyes.

The bell sound will accompany me into the eternal sleep.

*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*

*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*

*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*...*Ding*

.......

I change my mind, can you stop ringing the bell?.

No seriously, even I can't sleep when you ring the bell that loud.

I tried to let my voice out, but all I can do is a cry.

An incoherent sound with no meaning whatsoever, a baby cry.

The woman stop ringing her bell and smile at me with tears on her eyes.

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