What a drag. This village isn't particularly large, but it's not as pitiful as the small hamlets we've encountered in this area so far. I don't know, I expected more resistance. Humans are weak without exception, but they are cunning as hell, which makes fighting them enjoyable. They always come up with some trick up their sleeve that catches you off guard. With the armors they make and the curious weapons they create, their warriors can stand up to even the mightiest oni. But in all the villages we’ve raided in recent months; we’ve only found weaklings.

Now it’s not just my onis; even I am becoming despondent.

Blurko told me that I might find something useful in this village, so I still have some hope. I hope there's one of their fortified cities around here. Those are the real challenges! And Hyperion knows we're in need of challenges!

I wander through the village with the vain hope of finding something worthwhile, but I get tired quickly, so I decide to go see my little brother, though I have no idea where he is.

I should ask someone.

"Hey!" I shout to some men who are dragging survivors to have their way with them. "Do you know where Blurko is?"

"I saw him go into the church a while ago, boss, that building with the bell tower," says my warrior, pointing to a prominent stone tower.

"Good. Don't lose your heads. Got it? If you kill someone because you can't control your dicks, I'll cut them off myself!"

My warriors nod and continue with their business.

That’s what they say, but I’m sure they’ll end up killing several. They're so small and fragile that I don't know what they see in them, but that's how men are. Although I can't say that our female warriors don't do the same thing from time to time, it's less frequent. Well, I’d like to relieve some tension as well. However weak the resistance has been, hunting always gets me worked up. But as the horde leader and a servant of Hyperion, I have other priorities. I make my way toward the village’s church, where humans worship Cronus, and there I find my little brother, as always, sitting in front of a table overflowing with books and scrolls. My son Karzo and my daughter Shaza are here, helping him. I like that. However, what catches my attention the most upon arriving is the appetizing scent in the air.

"What are you cooking?" I ask as I enter the church.

"We found a young and quite chubby male while he was looking for something interesting on their shelves. We're cooking him in the back," my little brother answers, not taking his eyes off his books. "It's going to take a while, and I thought you might be hungry."

"How you pamper me," I say, very happy with his thoughtfulness. He, being blue as he is, has always been different from us red onis. So much so that most of the time, I don't know what's going on in that head of his, but he always has these gestures of kindness toward me that no one else does. That makes me very happy. Our lord, Hyperion of Fire, created us red onis first, the best warriors on Gaia, but driven by his competition with Themis of Nature, he divided our race into blue onis as well. While red onis are natural warriors and the embodiment of his desire for chaos, the blue onis are much smaller and more fragile, almost like humans, but in exchange, they're much smarter, composed, and as proficient in magic as the elves and alfars. Not that red onis can't use magic, but we don't have their talent or need for it. We crush our enemies with our bare hands or our axes. In fact, any offspring, regardless of the parents' color, can turn out red or blue, but they are much rarer and thus more valuable. Besides, they possess an impossible power for red onis: the power of healing. I'm red, and I know perfectly well that compared to Blurko, I'm an idiot, just like my two children. But that's why we have him. And I'm glad to see how he's been teaching them both since I had them. Thanks to him, they're both much smarter than me now.

"What I don't want is for you to get grumpy while I read," my little brother jokes, unable to hide his smile.

"I hope you're helping your uncle a lot," I say to my children, and they nod firmly. It irritates me a little that my two children treat me with such formality, no matter that I'm the horde leader. But I haven't been able to change their minds since they became adults. It makes me a little envious that, however, they still treat Blurko the way they always have, but I understand it as well.

Only my little brother continues to treat me with the same attitude. I adore him! I go out to the back and see that the human is roasting on the fire. He's still a bit raw, but I'm hungry, so I cut off his forearm and go back in while I eat it slowly.

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"Well? Have you found anything worthwhile?" I ask after swallowing the first bite.

"A few things, yes. Although some conclusions may be premature, I'd like to interrogate some humans and alfars before we mobilize," my little brother replies, not taking his eyes off his books.

"Is that so? Are there any alfars in this village? I don't remember seeing any during the attack."

"They weren't warriors, so they hid in this church, under a false floor with plenty of supplies."

"They were expecting this attack, and for some time," Karzo tells me.

"They didn't seem well-prepared at all," I tell my son, doubting the accuracy of his words.

"Only a few of them knew," Shaza adds. "Uncle believes this village and the ones we've raided in recent months were bait."

"Bait? For us? What are you talking about?" I ask my little brother.

"Didn't you find it odd? So many small, poorly protected villages near each other," he says, looking at me for the first time since I entered. "Karzo, unroll the map, please."

My son obeys and unrolls a large parchment that covers the floor. The map is so big I could use it as a blanket, and I'm tall even among onis!

"We're here," Shaza points to me after bending over. "And these are the villages we've raided in recent months."

"From the Bloody Mountains, where we came from, to where we are now and continuing the path we've followed using these villages, we'll inevitably end up here," Karzo points to a different drawing from the villages.

"What is this?"

"According to this," my little brother responds, showing me a loose piece of paper from the table, "it's a city called Bastiagron. A human fortress, and a big one. Although we've never raided this far inside the region, so I don't know many details yet, it looks quite imposing."

"Don't tell me," I say, licking my lips. "Finally, a worthwhile hunt."

"It's a trap, Rathari," my little brother tells me, sighing. "The villages were breadcrumbs, and Bastiagron is a bear trap. For starters, it should catch your attention that there's a human fortress inside Themis's territory. One thing is isolated villages, but this is something else entirely. We can't take it with the forces we have now."

"And is that what's worrying you? If you say we can't take it, we won't go today. We'll prepare thoroughly and come back when we're ready. The kids are going to love it; it's the first real challenge in many years."

"In generations, I'd say. The humans are not alone in this. Well, it's only a theory, but I think they've allied with the elves and alfars. Perhaps more, I'm not sure yet."

"A joint army! That would be fabulous! Do you think it's worth bringing in the other tribes? Or will that be too much? I wouldn't want to bring in too many and then have it turn out to be too easy."

"Why the hell do you look so happy?" my little brother asks, with that narrowed look that's so typical of him. "I don't think you realize yet what we're talking about."

"Don't get so tense," I tell him while grabbing one of his horns and giving him a playful shake. "It's the best thing that could happen to us. We've had too many small hunts for a long time, and we’ve been taking too few sacrifices along with us. But this changes everything. Hyperion will be pleased like never before, and it will make me go down in oni history!"

"You still don't understand what I'm telling you, Rathari. Themis's servants have allied with the humans, and they're practically shouting at us to attack. Even if we unify the whole horde, it's not certain we can take Bastiagron. And if we were to succeed, we'd be severely weakened deep in Themis's territory. Even if we won, the humans could hunt us down before we have a chance to return to our territory, with the sacrifices. Do you understand what that implies?"

"That sounds really bad, but I'm sure you've already thought of something," I tell him with high expectations, which he never disappoints.

"They're declaring war on us, Rathari. If I'm right, the humans and Themis's servants have started a war with us."

"That's not something new."

"It is. The natural order is for us to sow chaos, they seek revenge, and we return to our territory while we both lick our wounds. It's a delicate balance like the one between Hyperion and Themis. But now they're breaking that balance, which means that, this time, retreating might not stop them, and they'll continue attacking."

"Oh! Are you serious!? Do you really think so!? Could we fight at home for the first time!? That would be awesome!"

My little brother puts his hands to his face and sighs deeply. Why can't he understand how fantastic that would be, even though he's so clever? I'm getting excited just thinking about it!

"Well, I suppose it will take some time to make you realize the consequences this war could have. So, let's see... We already have enough sacrifices, so we can go back and offer them to Hyperion. I suggest we withdraw and prepare ourselves. And before you think of any recklessness, let me talk to the elders, alright?"

"Of course. But remember, ultimately, all onis follow Hyperion's will. If he says we go on, we will. And you know as well as I do that he'll love this war as much as I will."

"Yes, I know. That’s why he selected you as his servant. But that doesn't mean I won't keep trying to be the only voice of reason in this horde."

"Of course not, that's what makes you so adorable. And don't worry," I tell him, hugging him. "No matter what happens, I'll protect you."

"I can take care of myself, you know that," my little brother tells me, annoyed yet adorable.

"Yes, yes, I know that, but still, even with that, I won't let anyone or anything hurt you. And the same goes for you two! Don't let anything happen to your uncle, alright?"

"For a moment, I thought you were going to say that you'll protect us too," Karzo says, and he and Shaza burst into laughter.

"First of all, I want to go talk to the alfars that were here. Will you come with me?"

"Of course, you know how much I love watching those little shits tremble in fear when they see me. It's hilarious!"

"Yes, I know it very well. But don't overdo it; passed out, they won't be able to tell me anything."