Prime Originator

"What a spectacle. The spatial storm is even more fascinating up close," a female Red-Horn Orc Greater Demon remarked while peering into the distant sky.

"I believe the best view would be right under it, Lord Ishtalir," another Greater Demon from the same clan spoke with an ingratiating look.

However, the Greater Demon was one rank lower than Lord Istalir, who was a High-rank Greater Demon.

"Enough, Lord Geramut. We did not come for sightseeing," Lord Celimurt gave the bootlicker a side glance before stating, "We've come to investigate the spatial storm."

"That's right. And just sensing its sheer power, I am more convinced that the Eternal Night Demon Emperor's tomb will emerge from it," a Scaly-tailed Lizard Greater Demon

At the bank of the Bone Sea's east outer rim, two dozen Greater Demons and two hundred Lesser Demons showed up while more demons were still on their way. 

Among the leading group, three Greater Demons were at the High-rank, nine at the Mid-rank, and twelve at the Low-rank. 

"There are no humans around here," The Black Jackal Greater Demon Setma confirmed with his sharp sense of smell. 

"Nevertheless, don't let your guards down. Humans must have flocked to the spatial storm before us in even greater numbers. As for their strength, they shouldn't be too weak either."

One of the other three High-rank Greater Demon warned. 

Shortly after, the demon group advanced towards the Abyssal Wood Forest when the Black Jackal Greater Demon suddenly stopped. 

"Hold up." 

"What is it, Setma? Did you pick up the humans' scent?" Lord Ishtalir questioned.

However, the Black Jackal Greater Demon shook his head. 

"No, it's not the humans' scent, Lord Ishtalir; it's our people's scent—or rather, the scent of their blood, and a very pungent one at that!" Setma replied with a deep frown. 

A short while later, the demon group found the several hundred missing Lesser Demons on a patch of barren land, where their corpses were left to rot. 

Dark crows swooped down, and earthworms crawled out of the earth; both came to feast on Lesser Demons' corpses.

"Hmph, I heard a low-ranking member of the Evil Eye Clan sent these Lesser Demons to investigate the disturbance, and as I can see, that demon truly has the brain of a rock."

"But rocks don't have brains…"

"Exactly."

"Oh."

Although the pile of corpses unsettled some of the demons, the demon group eventually moved on under the three High-rank Greater Demons' lead.

"There's a strong scent of medicine here. It seems like someone tried to hide. This level of recovery is slightly better than a Greater Demon's regenerative ability. Too bad it's been contaminated by some lowly dark faes…"

The Black Jackal Greater Demon uncovered the leaves and studied the medicinal bath left behind by Saresha's group. 

Although the medicinal bath still carries a strong medicinal scent, the dark faes' impurity and bad blood had mixed with the bathwater after repeated breakthroughs, turning it into a murky color.

"No matter how desperate I am, there's no way I would ever drink the dark faes' bathwater. What a waste of the secret realm's natural resources," Lord Ishtalir frowned. 

Drinking such filthy water would bring shame on any demon's honor and damage their clan's prestige. 

"Hmph! If I see anyone from the Dark Fae Clan, I will kill them. Wasting natural resources like this, it's no wonder they are at the bottom of the demon clan rankings; they don't know to use natural resources!" 

Lord Celimurt snorted.

…

A few hundred yards away, a small group of humans prepared to leave the Abyssal Wood Forest when they suddenly froze in their tracks. 

"There are demons here!" 

A High-rank Battle Master exclaimed in a low yet hushed tone, alerting his fellow tribesmen before quickly hiding behind the ashen trees.

"How many demons do you see, chief? What about their strengths?" a Low-rank Battle Master whispered. 

However, the High-rank Battle Master shook his head. 

"It's impossible to gauge their strength from this distance. However, the demons are definitely not few in numbers. It's not safe here; we better head back and warn the other tribes."

"Why should we warn them? It might be better to let the two sides kill each other off, so we can swoop in later and reap the rewards, Chief Gunther," another High-rank Battle Master suggested. 

Chief Gunther immediately furrowed his brows. 

"Although our Valiant Greyhawk Tribe is from the western region and rarely interacts with tribes from the central and southern regions, we are all humans. So it won't do us any good if the other tribes suffer too much loss."

…

While the Valiant Greyhawk Tribe discussed their choices, they did not know that the Black Jackal Greater Demon had already discovered them.

"What is it this time?" Lord Ishtalir noticed the Black Jackal Greater Demon's gaze and asked.

"I've found some rats hiding in the forest, and they might even be responsible for the several hundred Lesser Demons' deaths."

"How are their numbers, Lord Setma? If they don't have many people and there aren't any other human groups in hiding, we have to kill them and avenge our people!" 

A Dark Monkey Lesser Demon clenched its fist while its eyes burned with vengeance.

Among the several hundred Lesser Demons killed, there were at least thirty members from its Dark Monkey Clan.

"There's only twenty people and no other human groups in hiding. So if you are so eager to take revenge, you can lead the charge," the Black Jackal Greater Demon coolly replied.

Shortly after the High-rank Greater Demons acknowledge, two hundred Lesser Demons in the group rushes toward the Abyssal Wood Forest while the Greater Demons casually follow behind.

At the same time, the Valiant Greyhawk Tribe quickly notices the demons' large movements before their expression changes with great alarm.

"We've been discovered! Quickly run!" Chief Gunther quickly warns.

However, the Valiant Greyhawk Tribesmen did not even wait for him to finish speaking before fleeing ahead.

As the demons quickly rush into the Abyssal Wood Forest and chase after the fleeing Valiant Greyhawk Tribesmen, the Black Jackal Greater Demon casually glances in a specific direction before continuing with the group.

Saresha and her clansmen hiding in the trees trembled with alarm in that brief moment. 

They got discovered!

…