A few kilometers away from the Town of Beginnings, there exists a village found in the depths of Erindem Forest, where the Erindem Valley is located. This village was previously known as the Niribus Village until it was denounced by the Venerable Sky Clan for internal reasons, leaving it to be unnamed and losing its identity on its own.
If there was a place best suited for hiding while being chased by the Venerable Sky Clan, it was the place that they had chosen to forget the existence of.
"An abandoned village with sick old men, lustful and worthless adults, and hungry children… Worry not, for I will bring salvation by sending you all to paradise." A man in his late twenties, donning a sky blue martial arts uniform was looking down the village from the side of the Erindem Valley.
His skin was fair; his build was fitted and free from any form of impurities, which was coupled with his azure eyes and shoulder-length sapphire-hued hair. It was the original form of Lihan, who defected and was constantly hunted by the Venerable Sky Clan.
With his gaze sweeping past everyone, as though he was trying to gauge who was going to come with him in the woods… in the den of monsters for their final rest, Lihan couldn't help but mutter,
"I wonder what happened to that cat-masked Awakener… The Stripper, huh? Sigh, I preferred to play with him rather than kill him instantly, but he suddenly didn't come to the village. Did he perhaps change his mind? Or that he lied by saying he's aware of the village's location? Well, I guess luck's also part of surviving."
"Lihan! Lihan! How long have you been waiting?"
At that moment, a woman's voice aged around her late 30s resounded. She was accompanied by two children; one female around nine years old while the other was a male around seven years old; all were donning black martial arts uniforms embroidered with cloud-shaped ornament.
It was not because they were a part of the demonic cult or some sort that worshipped the skies, but rather–
"Ah, do not worry about it, Madam Ran. A few minutes should never be a bother when visiting a loved one's grave."
…these clothes were considered as this village's memorial attire.
"Right. Hehe, let's go."
In the eyes of these three individuals, Lihan's appearance was somewhat different. His hair was short and jet black. His eyes were roughly the same hue. What's more, his body seemed fit yet filled with impurities.
He was like an average countryside boy lost in the woods.
'A low-level illusory arts is enough for these unblessed weaklings.' Lihan inwardly laughed self-deprecatingly.
He paused for a moment, prompting Madam Ran, or the deceased Ran's wife along with her children to stop their tracks.
"Is something the matter, Lihan?" She asked.
"Ah, nothing… I–It's just I still can't believe what happened to Brother Ran and Cassian…"
'I think a horde of lizardmen should do the trick to send these useless brats to their graves.' He thought nonchalantly as though it was the most normal thing to do.
***
West Erindem Forest, outskirts of the Awakener's Guild's officially declared Lizardmen's Territory.
"Even if I'm powerless, I–I will make sure to kill The Stripper if I ever see him! H–how dare he murder my beloved and little Cassian then let the monstrous goblins celebrate it with their abominable ritual!" Madam Ran said, their strides getting deeper toward the unknown territory, at least for her and her clueless children.
"Madam Ran, The Stripper's a powerful Chaos Awakener. He said that he would gradually wipe out the village! J–just what kind of monster is he?! Heartless, truly heartless!" Lihan said, evidence of fear painted on his seemingly innocent face.
"B–but let's focus on finding Ran's and Cassian's graves… Refrain from saying such things in front of your children." Lihan added.
"R–right! Sorry. Hehe. Anyway, how long 'til we reach it? It's almost sundown. I also need to pay the Village Chief a visit for the night since he's asking me to deliver a pile of ingredients for the upcoming festival… We may have been abandoned by the heavens, but traditions shall remain." Madam Ran smiled.
'This old hag just couldn't stop yapping! Should I cut off her tongue right here, right now?! N–no, that's not right! I need her close to a monster's territory for [that] reason!' Lihan inwardly seethed.
Rustle!
At that moment, the nearby bushes from the path of grass rustled. It was not because of the increasing intensity of the wind as the night was approaching.
It was due to the presence of a humanoid lizard, whose skin was green and filled with scales; whose eyes were slit orange-yellow. It was holding a crude spear in its hand, but it seemed as though it didn't expect the sudden visitor.
[Erindem Lizardman Patrol]
The two parties, upon seeing each other, paused for a moment. It was as though time just stopped ticking.
A moment later, similar to the brainwaves from each other snapping, their voices reverberated throughout the outskirts of the Lizardmen Territory.
"L–Lizardmen!"
"H–Humans!"
'Illusory Arts: Monster Disguise!' Lihan muttered in his head.
This ability would allow him and his targets to be perceived as anything he wanted them to be. In this case, fellow lizardmen.
However… that was the case only for himself. He let the monster patrol to witness the true forms of Madam Ran and her children.
'It is early, but I guess this will do.' He thought.
"L–Lihan! W-where are you?!"
"U–uncle Lihan!"
In a second or two, during that moment, these individuals' perception was distorted without them knowing it.
What they were witnessing right now was that aside from the first Lizardman Patrol, another monster was standing just beside them, gazing at them with malicious eyes, perfectly mimicking the madness of these monsters.
A perfect deception!
Or not.
It was at that moment that something from the bushes swiftly moved; a man donning a cat mask with a crude Qi-imbued katana in his grasp.
And his target?
Lihan in his lizardman form!
Slash!
"Madam, if you see a monster near you, just fucking run!"
Unexpectedly, Lihan's right arm was suddenly cut off.
Spurt!
Thud!
This caused the [Illusory Arts: Monster Disguise] to wear off due to the disruption of the flowing Chuuni Qi in his body, revealing his current condition.
"H–huh? I–isn't that Lihan?! But earlier…" Madam Ran looked confused with a mix of fright in her eyes. It was the same for her children.
Seeing this, Ryder's eyes dilated.
"L–Lihan...?! I–I thought it was a lizardman! You see that too, right?!"
Madam Ran and her children nodded. The existence of The Stripper's appearance based on Lihan's description seemed to have escaped their minds.
It was then…
"Y–you motherfucker! I'll kill you all!" Lihan's composure instantly hit rock bottom, prompting him to show his true nature.