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nThe town of Urich was an integral part of the Eastern Kingdom, albeit small.

nBeing a rural area, greatly underdeveloped, its denizens were also not too many. A total of three hundred and thirty-nine dwelled there—approximately 120 adult males, 150 adult females, and the remaining were children. Many of the adults were also elderly, living up to a ripe old age before death called for them.

nDespite the small size and hardly civilized means of living, this small dot on the map was within the border of the Kingdom. Urich wasn’t exempt from the obligations toward the Kingdom and the benefits that came with them.

nAs a rural settlement, the people made a living using trade by Barter, exchanging one item for the other, rather than using the currency of the Kingdom.

nTo them who lived at the furthest end of the Eastern Kingdom’s border, facing the north, there was no better means of exchange. They mostly dealt in arables—grains and legumes when it came to agriculture. The town also had a couple of animals who were used as beasts for burdens to plow the land and transport goods.

nLivestock wasn’t in fashion, though a few homes had a couple of domestic fowls that they raised. Still, it wasn’t as though the entire village practiced such a thing.

nAny commodity the town lacked was supplied to them by the Merchants who came to buy from them. In exchange for high-quality grains and legumes, they would receive meat, milk, and other necessities. They sewed their own clothes from the little cotton they grew, and made their shoes from malleable wildwood and rough plant parts.

nThe homes resembled thatched huts, built of straw and wood. These weren’t perfect constructs, but each of their homes was made to be sturdy—they lasted years without the need for repair.

nWhile their lives couldn’t be said to be comfortable and ideal, they lived in harmony and unity. Their small numbers caused a deeper understanding of everyone in the community. They were one large family. Happiness was a luxury everyone could afford.

nThis same town, at the edge of the kingdom’s territory to the north… was about to receive a rude awakening!

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nKahn was still brimming with anger, fury, no, shame… his slumped shoulders drooped even further whenever he remembered the humiliation he suffered at the hands of his previous subordinate.

nIt was utterly disgraceful!

nAs a Demon, rank was everything. Despite being among the six Demon Lords and the ruler of his race of Shadows, he lost it all in the Succession Challenge.

n“Kyron… that bastard…” The Shadow Demon growled with hate and rage.

nThere were countless thoughts on his mind, but first, he had to keep moving.

nKeeping up his steady, slow steps, he walked in the only direction he had been moving in ever since he exiled himself from the Demon Realm.

nHe was sure he had come to the human world, but wasn’t sure where he was.

nSo much had changed since he was last here, after all.

nKahn kept moving, passing mountains, deserts, rivers, forests… he didn’t stop. The burning passion within him gave him the strength to persevere… until he finally laid eyes on the first human settlement to be encountered after so long a journey.

n“This is…!” His distorted voice let out a whisper.

nThe body made of shadows and pitch-black darkness moved closer to inspect the area more, and the Demon’s whitened eyes narrowed to zoom in on the targets in sight.

nWith its heightened vision, everything else became a blur, and even from such a great distance—nearly a mile away, atop a giant hill filled with clusters of trees and shrubs that endlessly bothered the Shadow Demon— Kahn could see all that happened in the village.

nHe noticed how they jointly worked on the small farmland located at a far corner from the thatched and tattered excuse for houses that they had.

nIt was evening time, so the people were rounding up all the day’s work.

nHe saw them rejoice while working—how they smiled and enjoyed one another’s company. It was extremely infuriating.

n“Those insects…”

nNo, calling them that would have been an overstatement. The insects in the Demon Realm were far superior to the silly creatures who worked their fields and had fun doing it.

nFor someone like Kahn who was enraged by his disgrace, he could not condone the happy expression implanted on the faces of others.

nOnly the strong had the right to be happy!

nThese ones were weak, so pathetically weak. He could not tolerate their blasphemy.

nWHOOOOOOOSHHHH

nIn a flash, the Shadow Demon vanished from the cluster of plants as though he was never there, only a trace of darkness remained.

nHe rushed at the village with such immense speed that the wind parted way for his dash. In mere moments, the Demon closed the distance between himself and the village. And so, seeing that he was only a few more moments away from reaching the little fence they used to surround their village, Kahn leaped high into the air and lunged at the village settlement within the flimsy wooden barricade.

nThe unsuspecting, hardworking villagers could not have expected what came next. They, who were simply enjoying their daily activities—the children having fun in their own way by chasing after one another, adults working hard, even the elderly, sewing wears, making shoes, and attending to the children— were met my utter despair.

nBOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

nThe loud explosion caused the entire area to tremble as a gust of wind filled the village. No one could be exempt from the effects of an unknown force crashing into the village.

nThe reverb lasted for only a few moments, but everyone trembled where they were and instinctively looked in the direction of the cloud of dust that seemed to be the origin of the loud noise.

nIt was located at the edge of the village, closed off entirely by the barricade since that was neither an entrance nor exit. No one came from the edge where the dust came from… it was a secluded area.

nYet… yet… what was this disturbance the people felt?

nEveryone, even those who tirelessly worked on the field, left all they were doing and began moving in the same direction. Like iron being attracted by a magnet, like prey drawing closer to bait… these unsuspecting, hardworking villagers moved closer to their doom.

nAnd that doom—Kahn— patiently waited for his prey!

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