(Moku’s 3rd POV)

A demon was seen sprinting at supersonic speed through the dense forest surrounding it.

The demon had the form of a giant lizard running on two legs. Two sharp horns protruded from its head like a king’s crown. Its muscular forearms were as black as hardened iron.

Its eyes were yellow with vertical slit pupils, more resembling a dragon’s eyes than a snake’s. Sharp spikes jutted out from its spine, appearing deadly. Its mouth was filled with sharp teeth, resembling those of a shark.

Its nose sniffed the scent in the air, and its pointed ears tingled, sensing vibrations in the air. It suddenly stopped and leaped backward at an unseen speed.

Just as its body moved, the ground it stood on previously suddenly exploded.

*BOOM!

A compressed airball struck where the demon stood, causing a massive explosion that uprooted the surrounding trees.

The demon’s forehead wrinkled, and its head turned towards the perpetrator who attacked it.

There stood a tall man, towering up to three meters, smiling at him. His green skin gleamed under the scorching sun. He wore baggy pants with a fur jacket clinging to his shoulders.

He was Moku.

"Hey, where are you going, big boy?" Moku said, preparing another Brajadenta in his hand.

The demon didn’t respond to Moku’s banter. It stood 4 meter tall, its eyes fixed on Moku. It seemed to be weighing or sensing something before it nodded and then spoke.

"My name is Foras, the demon of doom, son of Count Furfur, grandchild of Majesty Mamon, the sin of wrath! What is your name, warrior? Tell me so I can remember it when I eat your body!"

His voice thundered with pride as Foras introduced his name, filling the forest canopy.

Creatures hundreds of kilometers away immediately fled in fear, seeking refuge from the impending disaster.

The clouds in the sky seemed to be blown forcefully, creating rifts in the darkening sky.

Moku frowned, "Wow, this is the first time I’ve met a demon that can speak. I thought your species consisted only of mindless beasts!"

He was genuinely surprised now, not because of the overwhelming aura emanating from Foras when he introduced his name, but because it was the first time he had encountered a demon he could converse with.

"What you meet is what we call a Mana Demon. They are the weakest type of demon in the world. If you equate me with them, you have insulted me, warrior. But I can still be magnanimous enough to respect you because you have slightly weaker strength than mine. So, tell me your name, warrior!"

Foras’ voice remained unchanged in tone. He sounded calm, like someone teaching a clueless child about the world.

Moku grew more intrigued by Foras’ calm demeanor. He could even sense a regal aura emanating from the demon.

This led Moku to reconsider Aqueanar’s explanation about demons.

They weren’t just mindless beasts controlled by the desire to prey. They possessed cognitive abilities equivalent to other Mana species.

Even from Foras’ manner of speaking, Moku could detect a lifestyle and perspective similar to monsters.

Moku ceased his preparation of Brajadenta, bowing his back in respect to his opponent.

For Moku, respect should be reciprocated with respect.

Though they would soon engage in a battle to the death, with the loser becoming prey, there was no harm in displaying civility towards those equally strong.

The monster culture of respecting strength was ingrained in Moku, even before he transmigrated to this world and was still human.

This was why Moku wasn’t too popular when he was an MMA fighter, despite being a champion. He didn’t care about his fans and even scorned them.

To him, those who idolized fighters and yet dared not step into the ring themselves were cowards wasting their breath.

"Forgive my lack of courtesy, Foras, the demon of doom, the son of Furfur, the grandchild of Mamon, the sin of wrath. My name is Moku, the Ku of Wilwatikta Kingdom, the progenitor of asura, the ruler of monsters, the sovereign of Bog Forest."

Moku introduced his true identity to Foras.

He had already ensured no elves were spying on him.

He wanted to converse with Foras as equals, two powerful individuals destined to fight to the death. Deceit would only tarnish their impending battle, and Moku couldn’t abide by that.

If there were any elves spying on him now, he would eliminate them first before facing Foras in battle. Moku felt that Foras would allow him to do so because what he sensed from Foras was the same as what he felt from the asuras.

The pride of warriors.

Foras raised his nonexistent eyebrows, a satisfied smile forming on his face. It seemed he was pleased with Moku’s response and regarded his current opponent with far more respect than those called mages.

"It’s okay, Moku, the Ku of Wilwatikta Kingdom, the progenitor of asura, the ruler of monsters, the sovereign of Bog Forest. I understand you didn’t mean to mock, just ignorance. So, let’s fight to the death, and I’ll devour your body to the bone to honor your great name!"

However, Moku raised his hand. "Before that, Foras, if you permit me to call you so, I have a question for you," Moku said, looking at Foras with a serious expression.

"You may call me Foras. I will also call you Moku. What do you want to ask me? Don’t waste too much time, as it will only disappoint me," Foras replied with a snort.

His body returned to a relaxed position, seemingly without guard. He appeared unafraid of Moku attacking him while they conversed.

Yet Moku could still read his readiness, something that had become natural for those living as warriors.

Moku didn’t extend his words with flowery language and went straight to the point. "Why did you come to this continent and attack the Mana Species?"

In this war, the casualties on both sides have reached millions. Every day, hundreds or even thousands of casualties from both sides are killed.

The demon faction, which attacks elves, warbeasts, and humans simultaneously, certainly suffers more casualties than the other factions.

Despite their seemingly endless numbers, the piles of demon corpses are enough to fill a large lake, or if stacked, could create a new mountain.

Even if the demon leaders do not care about the foot soldiers, whom Foras referred to as Mana Demons, they still belong to the same species.

The war has been raging for several years now, but the demons have still not been able to break through the defense lines created by the alliance of elves, warbeasts, and humans.

Although the alliance appears to be under pressure with the increasing number of casualties, the reality is that the three factions have not yet fully unleashed their powers.

This is evident from Aqueanar and the other six elf kings who have not fully entered the battle.

Only Iron Darius and Lily Ariel, both Level 9 Constellation Mages, have stepped forward to confront the Level 9 Core Demons from the enemy side.

However, their battles seem restrained, not fully utilizing their abilities. If Level 9 individuals were to fight each other fully without holding back, the entire world would feel the impact.

Therefore, Moku is curious as to why the demons are not attacking with full force. They seem to be sacrificing all the Mana Demons by sending them without any demon leaders leading them.

Foras frowned, disappointment evident in his eyes. "Is that really what you want to ask?" he said, his tone filled with disappointment.

Moku was struck by the condescending tone in Foras’ words. He wanted to slap his forehead and bury his face in the ground.

Spending too much time with elves, filled with hypocrisy, had made him forget the basic law of this world: the strong prey on the weak.

What reason did demons have for attacking the Meer Continent?

Why do they seem to be sacrificing Mana Demon to die?

Because they can.

And they can because they are the strong.

How foolish of Moku to ask a question whose answer was already so evident.

Perhaps there was another reason behind it, but what good would it do for him? If you were weak, you had no right to comment on what the strong did to you.

Just accept it and lament your own weakness.

"Ah, forgive me, Foras. My earlier question was truly a waste of our time together," Moku shook his head in disappointment with himself.

The urge to slap his mouth hard made his face flush with embarrassment.

Foras simply nodded, having already forgotten Moku’s foolish question.

They both fell silent.

All questions and doubts had been discarded since they were born into this world. The acknowledgment of the strong’s right to do anything to the weak was ingrained in their pride as warriors.

Neither of them cared about what would happen to the loser because they wouldn’t regret it. Even if Moku had to watch his body being slowly devoured by Foras, he wouldn’t care. He only frowned, thinking about how weak he was.

Then, simultaneously, they both carved their domain into the world.

"Vivid Dream: Realm of Shadow!"

"Domain of Doom: Amalgam of Death!"