Scorching Forest.

East of Stronghold 3.

In a forest, where every tree is scarlet all year round, the air resembles that of the desert, and the ground would erupt in flames every two months.

This was the Scorching, topographically changed by the world. Its inhabitants, the daemons wandering about, usually bore red skin and are attuned to the element of fire and blaze.

It was a dangerous place that humans often avoids. However, for Hunters, it was a place that's known for its profitable hunting targets and great Experience farm.

The ores found in this area were also valuable and rare, making it even more popular.

Everything in the world is run by a system—the system of society, the system of killing, and the system of a power structure. Since the time before the world has anything that can be considered a decent society, there was already a system in place.

The system of the strongest survives, and the weak die. It had always been that kind of system, and this thought was further reinforced by the new system that descended from the heavens.

On the day when the heavens shattered and the world shook as if the end had arrived when the stars fell, and the mountains awakened as volcanoes, the order of humans became diversified and yet still monolithic in their ideals – survival became their goal.

They raised their heads and pointed their weapons at the beast that poured into their world. In time, their rise would arrive, and after reaching the peak of the mountain, they looked down upon the other beings once again.

They manipulated the world, trying to secure a better life for themselves, offering their prayers to none, trying to poke through the peak of what is known as the limits.

Through trial and tribulations, they evolved, killing became a norm, and a new order was established to meet the changing times.

Thus, the humans reclaimed their land, trying their hardest to ensure that their assets - the earth's valuable resources - stayed for themselves. They tried saving the dying animals they themselves caused the death of, but not out of kindness nor care. They simply wanted to free themselves of that guilt as they 'do the right thing'.

But now, in this world where might makes right; where the resources were as abundant as a weed in an open plain, humans would not even think to conserve.

They looked at the beasts that roamed the world as their target, trying to kill them as much as they could. Trying to settle the whispers of violence that creeps on their ears, trying to establish that they are ruling species.

But not all humans are violent and love to kill. Some were genuinely aligned with peace. However, as for the others, the same could not be said.

"Piskis, should we make our move?"

"No, not yet, Fold, let's wait for it a little bit more. These daemons are acting weird. Especially this one, I have not seen one of its kind in this forest before."

Piskis, a man

"Fold, now, kill it in one attack!"

Two well-equipped people jumped down from atop a tree branch, their target, a lone bipedal beast walking surveying its territory. Its skin was red, its hair dark as the night, its body muscular without compare.

It was a beast whose build was tougher than most, a daemon that treads on two legs just like a human but is unlike them. It was a male; thus, its ending was decided without any initial thoughts.

Unlike the peace lovers, most humans pointed their swords to the heavens, trying to see if they could surpass those who created them.

These people who swing their weapons against fate were known as — Hunters!

The two well-equipped Hunters jumped on one beast, trying to ensure no casualty befalls upon them. These were the same species who claim lynching was a form of cowardice; fighting two against one unfair; claims to treat intelligent beings the same as humans.

However, these were their true colors.

Those not like them were no human; those from beyond the Gates must be eradicated.

As they carried their swords and axes, swinging these weapons as they aimed for its neck, the two humans went for the kill without any hesitation.

However, they got something wrong. They were not the king of the world; they were not the being that stands at the top; they were just the beings who survived thanks to the kindness of the one who created them.

They did not know that there were beings whose existence triumphs over them.

As the two tried to ambush the scarlet-skinned daemon, a being bearing a Golden Hair appeared behind them, its eyes gleaming with a cold light.

Piskis and Fold tried to look back as they sensed its sudden appearance, they cursed, but it was too late. A dagger each for one another, from the back to the front, the blades were sharp enough to pierce them like a hot knife to butter.

Thud!

Both fell to the amber-colored ground, both nailed down, unable to move, for their flesh would tear if they dare to do so. Piskis and Fold wished to scream out, but their heads were stepped on by their assailant.

They looked forward and saw the red-skinned bipedal daemon approaching them with a quick pace. The two didn't cower; they instead found hope that an opening might appear if the two daemons fought; they were waiting for the Golden-Haired daemon to move back – but no such thing happened.

"Big Sis Sylva, thank the Goddess you took them down. I feared I would be forced to take them out on my own. But rather than that, are you fine? You should be tired after moving us to this place, right?"

"I am fine. Moving around like this as I use my skills helps me get used to fighting while tired. Compared to you and the rest, I am still but a fledgling, and compared to Big Sis Dhampy, I am but a crawling worm."

Killa laughed from her words, "Haha, don't think like that, anyone's a worm if they are Bis Sis Master's level."

"I supposed you are right."

A casual talk came out of the two daemons, which humans would have when they achieve victory over a hunt.

The two daemons conversed while stomping on their head.

The two hunters were left baffled, and a particular pride bubbled as their fear towards death disappeared as their end was already finalized.

"Bastard! You disgusting, filthy monsters! Kill me already!" Piskis, could no longer hold his sword, only the one in his tongue remained, but even that was dull as his words were nothing but the curses of an immature child trying to speak up to an adult.

Despite being smooshed to the ground, his cries were heard, but Sylva simply lifted him up by the hair. She and Piskis exchanged gazes.

And as Piskis stared at Sylva's enraged eyes, he trembled from fear to the point he wet himself.

"You don't get to choose how you'll die." Sylva didn't appreciate the bark of this man.

She and Killa didn't like humans, and both of them, like the others from the village, acted in this manner when faced with them.

In this world, where humans rule, a ragtag group of daemons moved from one place to another as they kill everything that got in their way.

These daemons upheld honor by giving their targets as painless death as possible and honoring the dead by consuming and using every part.

But to humans, they were different. As they kill humans, they give them the death they deserve, a painful and horrific death.

Their resentment and hate stemmed at what they did to the Priestess still remained, and unless Lilith wakes up anytime soon, such deeds will not stop, and the resentment will only fester more and more hate towards the race who thought had it all.