Rearing Demons
Chapter 68: Distant Past

Chapter 68: Distant Past

"I now free you." Yur walked among the slaves, swiping his double-edged sword casually. Heads fell and wails filled the crater, but Yur did not stop. His eyes remained calm, indifferent.

"No! Stop!" everyone cried, scrambling to escape—but how could they flee from Yur?

[Host should use current slaves for the plan!]

As he sliced through the scrambling groups, Zul suddenly interrupted him. I thought we would use cultivators for the plan? These slaves are much too weak.

[Although weak, they could be taken into the Bahirath. Those that survive will be strong and can be used in the plan!]

Hearing this, Yur rubbed his chin, deep in thought as he stared at the slaves struggling to break free. All of you, come back! Closing his eyes, he issued a sudden command to his demons. Nyz, how much longer?

Master, all of them are spread out, and with all the noise, many are trying to escape! Nyz replied quickly. As he did, Yur watched Velmira and Jisvruul, accompanied by Zhal, appear beside him.

Jisvruul and Zhal had their mouths covered in blood, while Velmira remained spotless—not a single droplet marred her skin.

Be quick, Nyz. We are starting the plan now! Yur then looked at Jisvruul. "Jisvruul, we will be using the slaves here for the plan. Go and gather them in Zulmasharr."

"Yes, Master," Jisvruul nodded, immediately beginning to transform into his full form.

"With Nyz, go to the other slave camps as well. Gather as many slaves as possible." Yur lifted his hand and tapped Jisvruul’s large head, transferring the detailed plan through Zul.

"I see," Jisvruul digested the information quickly, then suddenly smiled. "Master, your wish is my command." With that, he turned around and began his rampage.

Seeing him begin, Yur then glanced at Velmira and Zhal, ignoring the screams and wails behind him. "Now then, we will be heading toward the Fiend Devouring Sect," he announced, pulling out a map and pointing at several regions. "These are major cities with teleportation circles. They will help us reach the sect much faster."

"Why are we bringing him?" Velmira asked with a slight frown as she stared at Zhal. "Vru would be a better option." Her favoritism was clear, being close to Jisvruul, and she regarded Zhal and Nyz as too weak to be of much use.

"I don’t need your opinion," Yur replied coolly, looking at Velmira without batting an eye.

Upset, Velmira nodded her head, glaring at the frightened Zhal even more. "We will gather information here about Afloria," Yur continued, pointing at a large mountain region on the map. "Zhal, you will split with us here."

Traa Traa! (Yes!) came the reply.

"Velmira," he fixed his sharp gaze on her, "you and I will partake in the sect’s admission test together. Understood?"

"Yes," she nodded, relieved that Zhal wouldn’t have to join them for the entire trip.

"Keep in mind: if you fail the test, I will use your body to create a new demon," he warned seriously, indifferent to how it might make her feel. "Anyone who hinders my rise is not worth my time."

"Y-yes," she stammered as a droplet of sweat fell from her head.

"Good." Yur then put the map away and led them out of the slave camp. "Leave this place to Jisvruul and Nyz; their tasks differ from ours."

The two nodded and followed Yur out of the camp. They didn’t delay before departing, and Zhal, restless and aggressive by nature, quickly ducked his head when Yur said, "Zhal, if you can’t control your urges, I will kill you."

Traa Traaa! (I will control myself, Master! I swear!)

"A single misstep, and I will turn you into something new," Yur declared.

With Zul’s help and insights gleaned from Mal’s memories, Yur had devised a major plan requiring precise execution. Zul was handling all the details, so every step had to be perfect. For freedom, all will be used!

"Master..." Velmira suddenly spoke as they re-entered the forest, her voice soft and meek.

"Speak," Yur said calmly.

"How will we get through human detection? We are demons, after all," she said, her tone laced with worry.

Though powerful, she knew there were many beings far stronger than her—in the end, she was like an ant next to the truly powerful.

"You have my blood in you. You are my kin," he said calmly, striding confidently. "You have the blood of both human and demon within you, and at will, you can choose what to be."

The Ashkavaal bloodline—a blend of Mal and Yur—transformed its bearers into beings beyond human and demon, yet retaining both traits. Those with his blood could pass as either human or demon without fear of detection.

"Thus, your human form is not a disguise—it is your true form as well as your demon form," he continued, regarding Velmira with mild curiosity. "Though in your case, you discarded your demon form entirely, investing all your power in your human form; this is your only form. Zhal and the rest, however, can still switch."

This confused Yur somewhat. Everyone else, including himself, maintained both forms, yet Velmira had chosen to remain solely human. Yur himself remained an Ashkavaal—his true and most powerful form—but for his plans, he needed all his forms at his disposal.

Yet, seeing Velmira choose to remain human, discarding her demonic nature despite its advantages, was perplexing. If it weren’t for her usefulness to him, he might have killed her and allowed another demon to take her place.

"I understand," she said softly, her voice steadying as her confusion eased—though not entirely. Although she appeared human, her power still bore the mark of a demon, lacking only an orb.

"Anyways, let’s rush to the next city quickly," Yur declared, not wanting to waste time. He began to sprint through the forest, with Zhal and Velmira trailing behind.

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Luna stared into the night sky, her eyes fixed on the large moon hovering above. "Mom, doesn’t the moon look sad to you?"

Her mother, lying on the hard ground, managed a weak smile as she returned Luna’s gaze. "What do you mean, honey? Why do you think that?"

"I don’t know," Luna replied, puzzled. "Whenever I see the moon, I feel like it’s watching us... and it looks sad." She scratched her head, unsure of what she meant.

"Want to know something?" her mother asked, her voice tinged with bitterness and weakness, yet determined to engage her only child—the one miracle in her life.

Luna tilted her head, her bright silver eyes wide with curiosity. "What?"

"Seventeen years ago, when you were born, this moon looked just like this," her mother said softly. "Your dad and I used to live in a proper house before we were brought to this camp."

"You always mention living in some big house. What house?" Luna asked in wonder.

This was a story her parents often told—a past Luna could hardly grasp.

Hearing her daughter’s questions, the mother sighed. "Did you know, your dad used to be a prince?"

"A prince?" Luna’s eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"Just like in the stories I tell you," her mother said with a smile. "Your dad was once a charming prince of a grand kingdom."

"Really?" Luna exclaimed, crawling over quickly and wrapping her arms around her mother, perking up her ears.

Despite her young age, Luna’s growth had been stunted by a lack of nourishment, education, and real-world experience, compounded by the overprotectiveness of her parents. They feared that educating her too much would make her a threat, and thus she remained, in many ways, a child.

"Tell me about it, Mom," Luna urged.

"Sure," her mother said, patting Luna’s head gently. Then she began to recount the distant past—a time that seemed both dreamlike and nightmarish.

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"You must be Rose."

Picking up a few flowers from the ground, a young woman looked over to see a handsome man sitting on a fence, staring at her with a bright smile.

"Prince Jin?" She nearly dropped her basket, shocked at his appearance. "What—please—"

"Stop!" He quickly waved his hand, annoyed. "Don’t get so formal. Aren’t you my mentor’s daughter?"

"My father is the Prince’s—"

"Seriously, stop!" He waved his hand again, then leaped off the fence. "Look, I may be the Prince, but that doesn’t mean I’m not human." He rolled his eyes as he neared her.

"Then how would you like me to speak with you?" Her tone remained formal.

"Well, since your dad is my mentor, then we’re technically on equal footing, no?" He smiled. "Call me Jin."

"I can’t," she replied, shaking her head. "It would be impolite."

"Call me Jin," he repeated.

"I must not," she insisted.

He suddenly stepped closer, his deep smile unwavering. "Look, Rose, I think you’re prettier than that name given to you. So, for me, call me Jin."

Seeing him so near, Rose frowned. "Please be more cordial, Prince. I come from a traditional family, so do not blemish that."

"Sorry," he scratched his head. "I read somewhere that girls like guys like that, so..."

"You have been misinformed," she said, shaking her head. "Anyways, Prince, I don’t wish to take up more of your time, so I shall continue my work."

"Alright," he replied, slouching slightly.

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"Haha, you rejected Dad like that?"

Luna laughed hysterically, surprised by such a hilarious memory.

Her mother, Rose, also laughed, though tears filled her eyes as she recalled that pleasant past. "Your dad was too blunt—I had to put him in his place."

"That’s so mean," Luna giggled. "Dad is also so weird."

"That’s true; he was a weirdo." Rose then stared into the distance, watching a few people walking by.

Quickly, Rose grabbed the only cloth in their little mud house—the blanket—and covered Luna.

"Luna, sleep for now. We’ll talk more later, alright?" Her voice was hitched with a hint of fear.

"Are you leaving again, Mom?" Luna asked, worry in her tone.

"I just need to help a few people." Rose’s voice was filled with hidden pain as she slowly stood up from the ground. "Don’t make a sound; I’ll be back soon." Planting a gentle kiss on Luna’s forehead, she walked out of the little home.

Soon, she was surrounded by a few men who looked at her with wicked smiles. "Ready for another round? Hehe."

Rose didn’t utter a word, allowing herself to be pulled away by the rough hands.