The demon army marched forward as they passed by the mummified figures of their comrades and the dead bodies of the humans.

Finally, when they were only half a kilometer from the city gate, the human army rushed out.

Screams and shouts shook the ground as thousands poured forward and attacked the demon race directly.

But the demons did not attack yet.

They waited.

Their energy circulated through their bodies as their hearts pounded.

Every single one of them was waiting.

Waiting for the glowing being to appear.

Waiting for it to attack.

They were ready.

No matter what happened, they would tear it apart today.

But strangely, the glowing figure never appeared, even as the humans reached the demon army.

The first human punched a demon.

And that was when they knew.

The glowing figure wasn’t here.

Grins spread across their faces, at least those that had faces capable of grinning, as they charged into the humans.

Nuk was at the front this time.

He didn’t want to miss any of the action.

Seeing the first human attack him...

Clank!

Crack!

The cutlass shattered on impact.

Nuk stretched out his palm and grabbed the human’s head.

Then with a slight pull, the human’s head separated from his body.

Warm blood splashed onto Nuk.

The blood boiled the moment it landed on his scales, revealing the difference in temperature between a demon’s body and a human’s.

But Nuk wasn’t done.

Some of the blood splashed into his mouth.

He licked it and swallowed.

The taste was like spicy food, making him crave more.

Then he moved.

His tail swept to the left.

Humans were severed from the torso upward.

A punch.

A human head burst like a watermelon.

A slap.

Body and bone were vaporized.

The more Nuk killed this weak race, the more he seemed to enjoy it.

Weak creatures that attacked even with fear clouding their minds.

It was almost too good to be true.

It was magnificent.

And it was addictive.

It was like discovering a termite hill and destroying it without caring about the hundreds of lives being crushed beneath you.

That strange feeling of superiority.

Watching their lights fade.

Seeing intense fear as they looked upon the grotesque monster standing before them and ripping them apart.

Nuk didn’t know when he started laughing.

The sound was primal.

Ancient, even.

Some begged.

Others fought until there was no life left in them.

Most whined in pain.

But no matter how they reacted, Nuk didn’t care.

He enjoyed it.

Those pretending to be brave?

Killed.

Those allowing fear to consume them?

Killed.

Those who still fought despite missing limbs...

Despite blood pouring from their bodies...

Despite dizziness, headaches, and confusion...

Killed.

All killed.

Demons don’t give a fuck why you’re fighting or who you’re trying to protect.

Regardless of your drive or motivation, your people won’t just magically save you.

Whether you’re a chosen one or the son of a god, nobody fucking cares.

In a battle like this, only your strength matters.

Even powerful weapons in the hands of a weakling are nothing more than fancy distractions.

And these humans?

They have no power.

Only chains.

Disposable toys.

How were hundreds of millions of humans convinced to fight this war?

Simple.

Very simple.

Use what they love.

Use what they cherish.

A massive slogan.

Fight for your family.

Fight for your people.

They were fighting to protect something already lost.

Pathetic.

Weak, in fact.

But this...

This was what fueled demons as they killed.

For a race with few emotions, fear was one thing they craved.

They enjoyed the pleading.

The begging.

The despair.

To them, it was exciting.

And that’s why, when it came to war, demons were always first.

War excited them.

But even more than war, they loved dominating other races.

The demon race was a scourge.

One that could never truly be removed.

Because this scourge was necessary.

Light could not exist without darkness.

Nuk’s mind thrilled with these thoughts as he spread his hands.

Shockwaves erupted from him.

Thousands of humans around him disintegrated into a swelling blood mist.

Drip.

Drip.

A drop landed on his face.

Then another.

Then another.

One by one, Nuk became drenched in a thick, sticky liquid as crimson rain fell from above.

"Oh, the love of it all..."

"Oh, the fruitful entertainment born from these weak races..." Nuk muttered.

He moved and grabbed a human by the skull.

He squeezed so hard that the human’s mind went blank.

His expression froze as horror filled his eyes.

His weapon dropped from his hand.

His clothes became soaked.

"Tell me..." Nuk’s deep, looming voice rang in the human’s ears.

"Is there hope?" Nuk asked as a smile slowly spread across his face.

He watched the human struggle.

"Look around you."

"Can’t you smell that metallic scent?"

"Can’t you feel the trembling in your very soul?"

The human’s body started shaking as his lower half rapidly became soaked.

"Where are your comrades from a minute ago?"

"Where are those you dined with?"

Nuk leaned closer.

"THEY ARE ALL DEAD!"

His face stopped inches from the human’s.

Seeing a face twice his size, filled with sharp fangs, made the human roll his eyes back as he lost consciousness.

"Pathetic."

Nuk slammed the body into the ground.

Crack!

Multiple bones shattered.

The human woke up from the pain and spat out blood, his face twisted in agony.

Nuk chuckled.

Bang!

"So will you."

Bang!

"You will all die."

Bang!

"All of you."

Bang!

"Not painless deaths."

Bang!

"You will scream with no throat."

Bang!

"Choke on your own blood."

Bang!

"Keep tears of blood and scratch the ground trying to escape."

"BUT THERE IS NO ESCAPE!"

Bang!

"No matter where or when you choose to go."

Bang!

"Your death..."

Nuk slowed his speech.

His voice became grim and chilling.

"Will be slow..."

"Excruciatingly painful..."

"And..."

"Lonely."

Bang!

Nuk raised his palm.

Only an ankle remained.

The human’s entire body had been reduced to paste.

Nuk looked around him.

Clank...

Humans dropped their weapons.

One after another, they knelt.

The hope burning within them moments ago had been extinguished.

"Hahahahahaha!"

Nuk laughed wildly.

A wicked grin stretched across his face.

"A RACE BUILT FOR DESTRUCTION!"