Two figures stood atop a mountain, gazing down at the people gathered below.
It looked like a festival of some sort—both young and old filled the area, smiling and celebrating.
The two observers were what humans would call demons.
Red-skinned, golden-eyed, and in many cases, horned.
But these two were dressed differently—wearing fine garments that gave off the air of nobility, or even royalty.
A male and a female.
The woman wore a loose outfit that clung to her body but left parts of her chest and navel exposed. Two black horns jutted from the sides of her dark hair. Draped over her was a fur-lined robe, and her boots were polished black leather.
"Heh," she sneered. "I almost feel pity for these hapless weaklings. But they should be honored—they'll serve a noble purpose as my guinea pigs!"
"Do you have a plan in mind?" the other demon asked. He wore a high-quality dark outfit—no horns or red skin, and a high-collared robe.
"What was that, Ruben?" she snapped, turning to him with a frown. "What kind of fool ventures this close to humans without a plan?"
Ruben sighed lightly. "What I mean is, I hope your plan isn't just to destroy them."
He looked down again at the festive humans, his golden eyes calm and indifferent.
"There's that agreement in place. You might attract more trouble than you're ready for."
"You worry too much, Ruben." She waved a hand. "Are you worried about those pesky magic warriors? I'll burn them along with the humans if they get in my way."
"You're not listening, are you?" Ruben scratched his head. "Massacring humans is frowned upon—you'll end up with more than just the warriors at your throat—Ah, and she's not listening again!"
He barked the conclusion because her magical aura started to swell.
"Calm yourself, brother of mine," she hissed. "Listen—I even want the defenders to show up. That's my goal."
She clenched her fist.
"After I defeat them, everyone will see I'm not some pampered demoness unfit for battle. They'll finally recognize me as a worthy warrior."
"But Lilith..." Ruben frowned, sadness in his voice.
"Ruben…" She gazed at her brother.
"You're so cute. You just don't look like you belong on a battlefield."
"Desist!" she snapped. "It's because of nonsense like this that I have to prove myself!"
"But still..." Ruben exhaled and straightened up. "Isn't it too extreme? Burning everyone is a bit much. Killing about—let's say—a hundred should send the same message, don't you think?"
"…"
As he was ignored, Ruben fell into thought.
'Well, either way, I'll stay with her. If the worst comes to pass, I'll be the one held responsible... After all,' A twisted smile curved his lips, distorting his otherwise attractive face. 'Only a handful can do anything about me anyway. Kukuku! —'
"What's with that smile?" a strange, young voice called out. "You're hornless, but I assume—from that despicable aura—you're a demon too?"
Lilith immediately leapt back, putting a safe distance between herself and the stranger.
Ruben, on the other hand, merely raised a brow and turned to see who had spoken—
"WOW!!" Ruben sang.
WHAM!
A sickening crunch of bone colliding with stone.
"Go away for now," the stranger said calmly as Ruben's body was launched violently across the mountain range, vanishing into the distance like a hazy comet. "I'll deal with the woman first."
'What—?! It sent Ruben flying with just a casual swing of its arm?!'
Lilith's panicked eyes followed the fading silhouette of her brother.
But then she refocused. 'No. Ruben will be fine. He's a disaster in his own right.'
She dropped into a battle stance, her eyes scanning the intruder.
The figure was... a bluish blob. No—more like a bluish, shifting substance vaguely taking the shape of a humanoid.
Its surface was smooth, and it stood nearly twice Lilith's height.
And more alarming than its appearance was the absence of a magical signature. No presence at all. It had crept this close, undetected by both her and Ruben. That alone meant one thing:
Danger.
The creature made no further move. It appeared to be examining itself—flexing its hands, rotating its head-like shape.
Then Lilith broke the silence.
"You..." she said cautiously, her guard still up. "Are you one of the Order's guard dogs?"
The thing tilted what should be its head.
"Guard... dog?" it replied with the same unnervingly youthful voice—like a small child's.
Suddenly, it seemed startled by its own tone, flinching for a moment. Then, after clearing its throat, it continued—this time in a deep, resonant voice that vibrated through the air:
"I know not what you speak of. But my purpose here... is solely to inflict upon you a pain and anguish you have never before known. Brace yourself."
"...Huh," Lilith muttered, caught between confusion and intrigue.
'This thing... It has the countenance of… an infant, somewhat... yet it radiates the danger of an enigmatic beast... Is it a newly awakened monster?'
And then, she smiled—her magic swirling to life around her.
'It matters not! If it's this powerful, then defeating it would further prove I am not just some sheltered demon girl!'
Truthfully, she was afraid. The creature before her had no presence, no magic signature.
Which meant it didn't run on mana—but something else entirely. Something unknown. Thus, one wrong move, and she could be dead and not even know what killed her.
This is the real world—survival of the fittest!
But on the other hand... she was excited.
Demons were a race that idolized power, violence, and dominance. Even when facing overwhelming odds, most demons would never walk away from a fight.
'This strange mass of glistening blue... it isn't a known threat. Could it be a new player in this world? Regardless, I shall defeat it here and now—then prove the power I've trained and honed for a century. I am not a weak demon!
Violet flames burst to life along her arms as she sneered. "I accept your challenge, Blue Beast!"
"Challenge, you say?" it shrugged, voice echoing with quiet doom. "This is not a challenge. It is disposal. But no matter—give it your best. Resist me."
*
Let's move back a little—
Just as Alexander was coming to terms with his abilities and preparing for his first task as a Guardian Candidate, two others in another continent were performing a ceremony of true maturity in a spacious, luxurious room.
The white garment covering one of their bodies slid off.
"I'll take off your clothes now," said the petite silver-haired girl with a giggle.
Her eyes were sharp and green, with several thin black rings encircling her pupils. Another striking feature of hers were her long, pointed ears.
Across from her stood a gorgeous, grey-haired man wearing an expression of boredom.
"Do as you like," his raspy voice rumbled as he turned his face aside. "For the next hour, I'm yours."
"Geez, can't you afford to be a little horny at least?" she pouted, stepping toward him and beginning to unbutton his dark green outfit—strangely archaic, yet clearly high-class.
She threw his clothes off, and their bodies touched with a soft, heated press.
"As per our deal," she breathed into his ear, "one hour—and I'll make you feel so good, you'll once again remember how to love in this world."