Prime Originator

After the small group of humans left the Weeping Forest, they traveled westward along the empty path between the two dangerous regions. To their left was the Black Swamp, and to the right was the Weeping Forest.

As they continue to take this road, the distance between Black Swamp and Weeping Forest would gradually widen and lead them to an open field where their tribe lies.

Some distance behind their group, Leon darted from tree to tree nimbly like a monkey in following. Lumi floated by his side while matching his pace. 

After hopping past a few Weeping Trees, Leon raised an eyebrow as he looked back.

"It doesn't seem like every tree has these ghastly faces popping out. I don't know whether my luck is just too good or what, hitting the jackpot on the first pick." Leon quietly muttered with a rueful smile.

Apart from the very first Weeping Tree he climbed and a few Weeping Trees deeper in the forest, he had not encountered anymore Ghastly Face while he was traveling along the very edge of the Weeping Forest. 

"Did you really need to eat it?" Leon asked after a quick glance to the side. Parts of Ghastly Face were sticking out from Lumi's mouth as she was trying to devour it. 

As a body of Yin Energy, the Ghastly Face was easily twisted and deformed out of shape to fit her small mouth.

Slurp!

After hearing Leon's question, Lumi quickly swallowed the remaining parts of the Ghastly Face and smacked her lips with great relish before licking her fingers like they still had lingering Yin Energy from the Ghastly Face on them.

Lumi's actions were like a cat swallowing its mouse prey with some tail sticking out, and when they finish their meal, they will clean their paws.

On one hand, it was kind of cute, but on the other hand, it was actually quite terrifying if you think about it.

Yin Energy was tonic to vengeful spirits like her. When she devours Yin Energy and absorb them, a refreshing feeling would wash over her soul.

"Am I not allowed to eat them? It is actually very nice and refreshing, Leon. Have you ever had ice cream or cold drinks before? It is kinda like that. You'll understand if you try one." Lumi said coyly before suggesting with a reluctant look.

Leon looked at her speechlessly for a moment before saying, "Not interested." 

"Hmph, hmph! You don't know how to appreciate favors. Fine, I wasn't willing to share it anyway!" Lumi pouted. 

Leon rolled his eyes and focused on not losing the group ahead of them. 

The Yin Energy on the Ghastly Faces came from dead people. He would not be surprised if there were traces of Corpse Energy in them. 

Ingesting something like that, even if he does not get sick, poisoned, or catch some strange disease, he would most likely not have a good time on the toilet for a few days. 

They were in a situation where a fight could break out at any time. If he were to have an unstoppable urge to drop a big turd in the midst of battle, his life would be very miserable.

Leon recalled a few instances in his younger days when he went out to eat some common street delicacies from the Lower District and shivered. The food is often not clean and gave him terrible stomachaches each time. 

More often than not, he would not be able to make it home in time and had to knock the doors of strangers to borrow their toilets. 

The feeling of needing to use the toilet badly, but not being able to are one of the worse feelings. 

Leon lamented that he had not awakened his memories sooner. His medical knowledge would have saved him from these embarrassing experiences.

Shaking his head, Leon pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind and continued to follow the group. From time to time, he would flash a glance towards the Black Swamp on his left.

The outer regions of the Black Swamp had been swarming with undead beings earlier, but not even an hour later, they were all gone. 

Nothing was left behind except muddy grounds and large ancient bones. These were all excellent materials for weapon crafting, but Leon resisted the urge of going over to pocket them. 

These ancient bones contain the remnant wills of powerful demons during their prime. 

He did not doubt that all the Bone Soldiers, Knights, and Kings would come pouring back into the Black Swamp if he touched any of these ancient bones. 

On that note, the ancient bones he already looted also contained remnant wills. If not for them being stored in an independent space, the Bone Army would have easily locked onto his location.

He needed to find some time to erase these remnant wills to avoid future complications, but not now. The human group has had enough trouble. There was no need to recall the Bone Army back and give these people more trouble.

…

1200 miles west, the Darkmoon Tribe was located on the Infertile Plains.

The Infertile Plains was a barren land with rocky ground, devoid of any plants, or rather 'live' plants. Only dead, withered grass could be seen. 

As its name suggests, it was a land that cannot be cultivated. But it was precisely this type of barren land that the Darkmoon Tribe have settled their people and made it their home. 

The Infertile Plains was also home to many demonic beasts. Hunting was their way of life and survival.

There is never a peaceful day for the Darkmoon Tribe on this barren land, but this is also the norm for the Darkmoon Tribe. They are a warring tribe that lives for battle. Demonic beasts were their primary source of sustenance and also the source of all their clothing.

The demonic beasts' hunts humans, and the humans hunt them back. It was a land for the survival of the fittest. 

The precise location of the Darkmoon Tribe was situated around the bottom of a rocky plateau. Unsurprisingly, the Darkmoon City of the Darkmoon Tribe was built very primitively. 

Whether it was due to a scarcity of resources, technology, or both, one should not have expected a tribe of warriors to be proficient in anything else. 

Nevertheless, Darkmoon City had its own unique sense of beauty.

From the buildings to the walls and gates, everything was built from with demonic beast bones as the frames and special bricks made from the mixture of clay and demonic beast blood, painting the entire Darkmoon City a reddish-black color. 

Atop the rocky plateau, there were only two buildings, the tribal palace where the Chief resides and the colossal amphitheater where the finest of the tribe's warriors contested each other for entertainment and positions of authority within the tribe. 

Even the position of the reigning tribal chief can be challenged on the battle arena within the amphitheater. As such, the tribal chief was usually the strongest warrior within the tribe. 

At this moment, the current reigning tribal chief was standing on the edge of the rocky plateau with another two warriors, overlooking the bustling Darkmoon City as the tribesmen man the defenses.

"Do you remember how long the last Bone Calamity lasted, Sabertooth?" Chief Valencia asked casually.

Chief Valencia was a person with a very large build that makes even many men pale in comparison. Standing at a height of 6fts and 10 inches, she was indeed a behemoth compared to some men who could not even reach 6fts in their lifetime. 

She had ocean blue eyes, long wavy chocolate brown hair, and a creamy tan complexion. She wore a furry cloak and little to no other clothing, just enough demonic beast hides, and leather clothing to cover her body parts. The rest of her exposed skin was riddled with battle scars.

As one should have already guessed, the current reigning tribal chief of the Darkmoon Tribe was not a man but a woman. But despite being a woman, Chief Valencia was indeed the current strongest warrior in the tribe with her battle record of 9984 wins and 0 losses. 

She was the undefeated champion of the battle arena.

"It lasted 14 nights, Chief Valencia," Sabertooth answered.

"And the Bone Calamity before that?"

"21 nights, Chief."

"And the previous Bone Calamity even before that one?" 

"30 nights, Chief." Sabertooth continued to answer faithfully, despite being unsure of whether the Chief was heading with this conversation.

"What about the one before that?"

"There wasn't another one, Chief Valencia." 

Chief Valencia nodded. 

She stared towards the Black Swamp direction and continued, "There had only been a total of 3 Bone Calamities in the past, and today marks the start of the fourth one. Bone Calamities have been getting shorter, but each time they come, it's always been stronger than the last."

The Black Swamp had not always been called the Black Swamp. It used to be called the Bone Mountain. But after the past 3 Bone Calamities, the number of bones on the Bone Mountain had significantly reduced.

"If you are worried about the Bone Calamity—"

It's not this Bone Calamity that I am worried about." Chief Valencia interrupted with a shake of her head before continuing, "We can expect quite a few Bone Kings this time round, but this not what I'm afraid of."

"With my strength, I will fear no Bone King, but what about the next Bone Calamity? What if something stronger than Bone Kings crawls out of that wretched place? I'm afraid no one would be prepared for what's to come then."

"And to avoid that possible outcome, we must—"

Chief Valencia suddenly paused and narrowed her eyes on the distant horizon.

It was at this moment that an army of darkness could be seen advancing towards their Darkmoon Tribe. Their numbers were great, and the earth rumbled with each of their marching steps.

"So they have come."