In the bustling town of Elridge, under the Kingdom of Shahara, the sun, covered by clouds, couldn't shine relentlessly upon the townsfolk below who were abuzz with their own activities.
Market stalls were set up, selling different items such as potions and weapons. Merchants haggled over goods, marketing to the people passing by. Occasionally, people wearing leather tunics with swords at their waists looked at them, hoping to find a good and sturdy weapon. Children played in the cobblestone streets, their faces adorned with happy and innocent smiles. Amidst this commotion, the unmistakable sound of hooves clattering against the ground could be heard in the distance, growing louder with each passing moment.
As the sound drew nearer, a small group of knights appeared on the horizon, riding horse-like creatures with horns and scales, galloping toward the heart of the town. Clad in fine armor adorned with the royal crest of the Kingdom of Shahara, they immediately caught the attention of the townsfolk. Whispers filled the air as people stopped in their tracks, their curious gazes fixed upon the knights.
The group of knights quickly made their way to the town square, where a makeshift bulletin board stood. With a swift motion, one of the knights dismounted and pinned a large, ominous parchment to the board, securing it with a sturdy dagger. The townsfolk gathered around, their eyes filled with anticipation and trepidation.
"What's that?"
"Can someone read it for me?"
"Move aside, I can't see."
"Don't push; the crier will come soon."
Word quickly spread through the crowd that the parchment contained news of utmost importance from the mighty Kingdom of Shahara. The town crier, a man with a scholarly demeanor and a booming voice, stepped forward, holding a copy of the parchment.
"Hear ye, hear ye!" he called out, his voice echoing through the square. "By the decree of the mighty King Ab-Adal of Shahara, I bring you tidings of propitious and gladdening nature."
The crowd leaned in, their attention captured by the crier's words. They were eager to hear what astonishing news the Kingdom had to offer.
The crier began to read aloud, his voice infused with a sense of grandeur. "Be it known that the Kingdom of Shahara, in a groundbreaking development, has introduced a unique form of entertainment for its citizens. The grand arena shall become a merciless battleground where our demon foes, the vermin that have plagued our lands, shall be forced to kill one another for our entertainment and satisfaction!"
A murmur of excitement and joy rippled through the crowd as they absorbed the chilling revelation. The demons, seen as vile creatures deserving of eradication, would now be made to turn against each other, mirroring the suffering and death they had inflicted upon the humans.
"The common people, noble lords and ladies of the empire shall bear witness to the demons' agonizing demise, each kill a testament to our victory and their ultimate defeat. This will be our revenge, our payback for the torment they have wrought upon our lands and our loved ones."
Hearing this, the crowd couldn't help but have teary eyes as they all thanked the King and heaven for this chance to witness the suffering of the demons with their own eyes. They hadn't forgotten the destruction the demons had brought upon their homes. They all raised their fists in the air, ready to cheer and let their emotions free, but the crier spoke once again.
"But there is more!" the crier continued, his voice carrying a benevolent glee. "Those with demon slaves will have the opportunity to enter their own creatures into the arena, to fight and triumph on their behalf. Honor and glory await those who dare to participate!"
This time, the crowd couldn't contain their emotions any longer. They erupted into ear-piercing cheers, shouting like they had won the lottery with a billion price. Some people started tearing their clothes and waving them in the air. Couples could be seen passionately kissing each other, caught up in the frenzy. Merchants offered half-price promotions, while others even gave away their items for free. Hunters and warriors brandished their weapons, ready to hunt demons that would bring them wealth, honor, and glory.
"Praise the King!" they all shouted in unison.
Amidst the swirling commotion, a hooded figure stood at the edge of the crowd. He didn't cheer and shout like the others; instead, he remained in his position, his face hidden within the shadow of his cloak. An intimidating aura emanated from him as he watched the crowd cheer. After a moment, he turned his back and walked towards a secluded alley.
As he reached the alley, he noticed a man and a woman entwined in each other's arms, their bodies naked. The noise of the crowd drowned out the sounds of their pleasure. They moaned and moved in ecstasy, their expressions filled with lust and desire.
The hooded figure continued to walk, passing by the couple who resembled dogs in heat, too immersed in their pleasure to notice anything.
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But suddenly, the hooded figure stopped before reaching the end of the alley. He looked back at the couple, his face still hidden beneath his hood.
Sensing a stare directed at them, the man and woman immediately ceased their activities and turned towards the end of the alley.
"Hey, today is a joyous day! Don't watch us; have fun yourself!" the man shouted, clearly annoyed that their moment had been interrupted by some peepers. He disregarded the fact that they were engaging in sexual acts in a public alley where people would pass by.
"Let's stop here. I lost my mood, and I don't want to be labeled a whore later on," the woman said as she picked up her clothes and started putting them on.
As the man saw her fixing herself, he realized she meant what she was saying. A disappointed look appeared on his face, but it quickly transformed into fury.
"Look what you've done, you motherf*cker!" the man shouted furiously, his face burning with anger. "You ruined my fun! Come here, and I will make sure you never have yours!"
The man gestured towards the hooded figure, glaring at him fiercely. The hooded figure remained still for a moment before walking towards the man.
Seeing that the hooded figure followed him without hesitation, a grin appeared on the man's face. He already knew the identity of the hooded figure; he seemed to be one of the people who lived in the slums, and the secluded alley was their favorite place. He had seemed lucky to chance upon and watch them, but now he would regret ever coming here.
As the hooded figure stood in front of him, the man raised his hand and reached for the figure's hood, removing it.
The hood fell to the figure's back, revealing his coal-black hair and crimson eyes.
"Ah..."
A strange sound escaped from the man's lips as he instinctively stepped back.
"H-How did y-you get in here?" he muttered in a shocked voice, pointing his now slightly trembling fingers at the twisted horn on the figure's head.
The town of Elridge, although small compared to other towns, had a defensive barrier against demons. Given the number of warriors and hunters who frequented the town, it was surprising that no one had yet detected or discovered him.
"You vermin, what are you doing here?" the man asked again, his words now laced with murderous intent.
The demon looked at the lady, who was still wearing her dress and unaware of the situation, before shifting his gaze back to the man, who was still naked with his small rod sticking out.
"My business here has nothing to do with you, especially your disgusting escapade," the demon said in a cold, deep tone. "You humans think you're so righteous, as if you're saints, blaming all sin on us who are only trying our best to survive and propagate."
"What are you saying? Are you begging me not to kill you?" the man mumbled, reaching for his sword and pulling it from his clothes. "If so, stop it. It will not stop me from killing you. Your kind doesn't deserve to live."
The lady's attention was caught by this, and she immediately stopped fixing herself, turning her attention to them. She wanted to say something but quickly stopped as she saw the cold-looking demon staring at her. She shrank back in fear and hid behind the man.
The demon ignored this and continued speaking. "We all know that you humans are far worse than us, yet you still play the victim, trying to gain the sympathy and support of all the races."
The man couldn't bear to listen to the demon's words any longer, so he raised his sword and swung it at the demon vertically.
But the demon's next words sent a chill down the man's spine, forcing him to halt his sword.
"You two are blood-related, yet you're mating and moaning in pleasure as if you're not. It's impressive and unbelievable, considering it's a taboo in the Lust Clan, known for their lustful ways."
Shivers ran down the spines of the two as they heard their deepest secret being revealed. They were indeed blood-related cousins, but none of the people in this town knew, as they had eloped from a distant town.
"W-We're not! You made it up! That's what you demons are good at, right?" the lady denied, trembling all over her body.
The demon stared at them, amused by what he was hearing. He flashed a grin at them and muttered in a cold tone, "No, I didn't make it up. I can see it right through the structure of the DNA in your blood."
With that said, he pointed his index finger at their heads, shooting out a thin red wire.
-Spurt!
Blood spurted onto the ground as a hole appeared in the man's head. The sword in his hand fell to the ground. His eyes were filled with terror and shock as he fell backward, lifeless.
-Thud!
The man died without ever knowing how.
The lady, who was standing behind him, was now covered in blood. She couldn't comprehend what she was seeing. At first, she had been talking back to the demon, but then she witnessed him effortlessly kill her cousin with a single shot. It was ridiculous! She couldn't believe it. Her cousin was by no means weak; as far as she knew, he was at least in the red core stage. This only means that the demon was far stronger.
"P-Please have mercy!" the lady begged, tears and snot streaming down her face, making it messy. "I...I will do anything you want...even my body, just don't kill me...please, I beg you!"
"Disgusting..."
The moment the lady heard the demon utter those words, her world turned upside down. The last thing she saw was the demon looking at her with a repulsive expression.
"Hmph, you should be thankful that I wasted my time on the likes of you, given that I have urgent matters to attend to..." the demon said, his gaze falling upon the lifeless corpses of the two.
The man, still naked, lay in a pool of his own blood, especially around his head where white pus was oozing out. The lady's corpse was in a similar state, except her head had been cleanly decapitated.
The demon retracted the red wire-like substance back into his finger. Without hesitation, he turned his back to the scene and began walking towards the end of the alley, leaving no trace behind. He didn't want any evidence to affect his plan if something went wrong.
As he reached the end, he pulled his hood back over his head, concealing his hair and horns. He looked up at the sun, shining brightly now that it was no longer covered by clouds. The sounds of the crowd cheering and celebrating could still be heard.
He walked through the streets, maneuvering his way past children who were still playing and having fun with each other. Clenching his fist tightly, he stared at them with an enigmatic expression for a few moments before diverting his gaze and whispering to himself,
"Wait for me, Young Master... I will find you at any cost!"