The year was 1580. The golden era had just come to an end. The geniuses of this generation had received disheartening news: the world had abandoned them. There would be no Dao Attainment for their time. But this had little to do with the demon Apakthu, who had just returned from a hunt with his fellow demons.
"Hey, did you hear the 3rd Demon Prince is set to become the new Demon King?" asked Erebil, one of Apakthu's hunting companions.
"What? I thought the 7th Prince was confirmed as the next ruler," replied Apakthu, surprised.
"The 7th Prince died last month when he ventured into the Lost Continent," said Ariwul, their other companion.
"What? When did this happen?" Apakthu asked, his voice rising in disbelief.
"You really didn't know?" Erebil asked, shaking his head.
"Wait, even you knew?" Apakthu said, growing more exasperated.
"Of course I knew! Everyone was banned from leaving the capital when it happened. They said it was the 2nd Princess who convinced him to go to the Lost Continent," Erebil explained.
"Well, you can't blame Apakthu for not knowing," Ariwul interjected. "Wasn't your son sick around that time? You were probably too preoccupied to hear any gossip, even if it involved the royal family."
"Wait, so you're saying the 2nd Princess somehow lured the 7th Prince to the Lost Continent? Aren't they siblings from the same mother—the Crimson Princess, daughter of the Archduke of Evermoor?" Apakthu asked, trying to piece it together.
"Wow, look at you actually knowing some royal lineage," Ariwul teased. "But yeah, that's the story. After the 7th Prince wiped out most of his siblings during the succession battle, only he and his sister were left—excluding the new Crown Prince, the 3rd Prince. No one knows how the 2nd Princess convinced him to venture into the Lost Continent, but it sealed his fate."
There was a grim reason why they assumed the 7th Prince was dead. The Lost Continent, one of the Nine Forbidden Zones in the world of Xenos, ranked among the top three most dangerous locations. It was notoriously easy to enter—recite a simple phrase, and you'd find yourself there—but nearly impossible to leave. Despite its dangers, legends claimed the Tree of Eternity resided there, said to grant answers to those who reached it.
"Which is ridiculous," Apakthu thought. Even the Great Saint of the Elven Kingdom was said to have entered the Lost Continent and never returned. Why would the 7th Prince, poised to become Demon King, abandon everything for certain death?
"Don't overthink it, men," Ariwul said, breaking the somber mood he had unwittingly created. "We're just farm demons. The minds of the higher-ups work in ways we'll never understand."
Their conversation fell silent as they neared the village. After splitting off from his companions, Apakthu made his way home, nestled near the edge of the forest. He carried the spoils of the hunt and eagerly anticipated seeing his family—his wife, a beautiful siren, and his two young boys.
"At least my boys won't kill each other over an inheritance," Apakthu thought, feeling grateful for his simpler life.
Opening the door, he was immediately hit with a wave of nausea. The smell was overpowering, but luckily, he hadn't eaten yet—otherwise, he might have lost it all and just like it came the smell left instantly. 'weird' Thought Apakthu but before he could delve right into, he saw a figure rushing towards him.
"Dad! Dad! How are you? What did you hunt? Is it a bufflock?!" came a rapid-fire series of questions from his eldest son, Apuls, who darted toward him like an arrow.
Apakthu chuckled at his son's boundless energy. Like him, Apuls was a Uew Demon, a species considered the oddballs of the demonic world. Unlike their bloodthirsty counterparts, Uew Demons were kind, empathetic, and far less violent—a disposition that kept them relegated to the lowest ranks of demon society.
The only reason Uew Demons survived in the cutthroat demonic hierarchy was their indispensability. They made up the bulk of the lower workforce and performed jobs others wouldn't touch. Moreover, one of the founders of the Demonic Court had been a Uew Demon, earning them some measure of protection.
"I'm fine, son. How are your mother and brother? And to answer your question—yes, I caught a three-headed bufflock. Your favorite," Apakthu said, holding up the spoils of the hunt.
"Wow, thanks, Dad! I'm going to tell Mom!" Apuls exclaimed, darting off.
As Apakthu stepped inside, his eyes landed on the familiar and comforting sight of his wife, Lorelei, seated in the living room. She was as stunning as ever—her siren heritage evident in her flowing silver hair and shimmering skin. Behind her stood their youngest son, Dante.
Looking at her, Apakthu marveled, not for the first time, at how a lowly Uew Demon like him had managed to win the love of a siren. But that was a mystery for another day. For now, he was just glad to be home.