A forsaken Upper realm in a remote corner of the universe, a small planet, a speck of dust in the infinite multiverse, such is the description of the Lamia upper realm. The realm spirit was, as expected, a Lamia, a bloodsucking monster. Within that realm is a small kingdom that doesn't cover more than 0.1% of its landmass. It is under siege and currently resembles a fiery hellscape.
" This....this, why is this happening? what is our fault? " " Ram, where are you? Ram..... " " My eyes, my eyes....~aahh~~ " It was pandemonium, a disaster. The neighbouring kingdom used lures and bait to attract demonic beasts to their kingdom causing this chaos, killing thousands.
" Goddess, why is this our fate? " Despair hung like a thick miasma over the kingdom. Every second took dozens of lives. The price they paid in exchange for kindness was total annihilation. It was their own naivete in the first place. Nothing could be done now. EVERYTHING IS OVER NOW.
Looking at his imperial city burn to ashes was the king of this little nation surrounded by desert, forest, ocean and the neighbouring kingdom in the four directions. Accepting defeat, the king simply stared at his paradise collapse into ashes and dust. He gave up. Ready to accept death, he stood beside his loyal knight who had the same intention. It was after a futile argument for evacuation.
The Ocean and the Forest were filled with demonic beasts and the desert was the territory of an upper dragon that had a severe case of territorial aggression. Knowing full well that the neighbouring kingdom is the culprit, they were essentially a turtle trapped in a jar, helpless.
" Your majesty, can't we perform the forbidden ritual? " " Knowing that all the lives in the kingdom might be the price for it? " " But !?! " " We are not in a position to estimate the cost. I don't want to be the reason for the death of our kingdom. " " What if that isn't the case? we have two choices, your majesty. Die without a chance for revenge, or, die with our souls put to rest with the satisfaction that the ritual's result shall fulfil our revenge. " The king contemplated for a while.
" Prepare for the ritual. " He ordered with a solemn tone. The entire royal family and the ministers assembled around a formation (annular ring with runes engraved on its surface) etched on the ground of the throne room. They poured all the energy they could muster into the formation.
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By the time they ran to the terrace to see the result, all the demonic beasts were sliced in two. Not a single survivor was harmed. The kingdom was saved. The king cried in happiness while the prime minister shivered while contemplating the price that will be paid to the Akuma in the end.
The next morning, in the inner palace, a maid was walking with a tray filled with eatables to serve the princes after their morning routine. She walked to the door out of habit and knocked. " Your highness, may I enter the chamber? " The maid, receiving no answer even after multiple requests, opened the door while apologising only to freeze in place (not literally).
~~Scream~~ making a shrill scream akin to wailing ghosts, the maid collapsed. Hearing her scream, several maids and butlers rushed in, only to scream, faint and run from there. The room was clean and normal, only, the princes were now cold corpses, no, dried skeleton-like bodies sprawled on the floor. They appeared as if the very life force was sucked out of their bodies leaving empty husks.
The same scene was seen in the king's room, the princesses' rooms and in the rooms of all those of royal lineage. Even those not present in the kingdom weren't spared. Something or someone eliminated everyone, irrespective of the distance and relationship, of the royal family at once. The kingdom of Anastha was plunged into despair and chaos. The factions vying for the throne appeared out of nowhere resulting in a civil feud that would last an entire decade before destroying the kingdom, once and for all, making it a deserted ghost country to be lost in the annals of time.
Unfortunately, the kingdom harmed by the evil scheme of Anastha met the same fate and got destroyed. Starting from the deaths of the citizens by demonic beasts and the subsequent civil unrest spread due to the unexpected deaths of the royal family to the uncontrollable migration, everything had a share in its destruction. Among the very few who survived was one of the ministers who was a witness to the summoning of the Akuma by the royal family during the beast invasion.
" A fair price indeed, " he muttered as walked towards the horizon, never to be seen again. He was the only survivor among those who heard the name of the Akuma, Asura.