Duskvaar-a magical forest that serves as a paradise for demons, yet a nightmare for humanity. Spanning a vast 30 million km², this forest is home to countless non-human beings. Within its depths, powerful races such as elves, orcs, demons, and various hybrid creatures thrive, making Duskvaar a land of mystery and peril.
However, what deters humans from conquering this forest is not just its treacherous terrain or the monstrous beasts that roam within. Duskvaar harbors an absolute power, a force so overwhelming that even the strongest monsters and demons dare not approach its core.
At the heart of this ominous land stands a kingdom that radiates pure terror. A kingdom where only the strongest of the strong may enter. Even ferocious demonic beasts keep their distance, and the mighty orcs-who bow to no one-submit before the sheer force that resides there.
This kingdom is known by many names. Some call it the Hellfire Kingdom, others refer to it as Runcandell, and some whisper of it as Beelzebub's Domain. Yet, no official name exists for this place. To humans, it marks the beginning of suffering. But to non-human creatures, it is the birthplace of prosperity and dominance.
Until one decisive moment, humanity reached a consensus and named this kingdom Dunkara-the Kingdom of Emptiness and Darkness.
Unlike human kingdoms such as Solamria, where wealth determines social status, or Asran, where noble lineage secures power, the Demon Kingdom of Dunkara disregards all such notions. In Dunkara, strength is the only measure of status-the stronger a being is, the higher their rank in the hierarchy.
The current Demon King has ruled for over 200 years, with no challenger ever succeeding in dethroning him. Every hero who has set foot in Dunkara to slay him, and every creature within the forest that has dared to seize his throne, has met nothing but failure and annihilation.
The Demon King has two sons. Many might expect an intense rivalry between them, a fierce battle for succession. However, such expectations would be gravely mistaken. The difference in power between the two is immeasurable.
The firstborn son is often compared to his father, the Demon King, a being of terrifying strength. Meanwhile, the second son is seen as nothing more than a failure-a shadow cast by his brother's overwhelming power.
Inside the kingdom of Dunkara, there was a legend that said:
"When light loses its brilliance and darkness bares its fangs, the day when mortal beings lose hope, the day when all demons unite as one-on that day, the true Demon King shall be born. A king who will unify the world and bring liberation to all."
This ancient prophecy of the Dunkara kingdom foretold the demons' ultimate victory and the annihilation of humankind.
Inside the Dunkara Palace
"Honorable elders, the Third Demon King, King Harka Lucifer, son of Dunka Lucifer, is entering the chamber!"
A thick, oppressive aura filled the air as a 50-year-old-looking demon stepped into the room. He stood at 185 cm tall, his crimson hair exuding an air of savagery, and his face embodying the very essence of fear. As soon as he entered, silence engulfed the hall. No one dared to move, for they all understood the true meaning of power the moment they laid eyes on him.
"Everyone, today we have successfully conquered the Kingdom of Istora, a kingdom once known for its impenetrable defenses. This achievement was made possible thanks to my son, Branka," the Demon King's voice echoed through the grand chamber. Immediately, thunderous applause filled the hall.
All eyes turned toward the young man standing to the right of the Demon King. He was a man whose presence defied his youthful age-only 21 years old. For non-human races, having offspring was exceedingly rare. Typically, they could only conceive once every 100 to 200 years. However, the Demon King Harka was an exception. He had two sons-one aged 21 and the other just 13. It was unusual for a demon to have children so close in age.
Unlike his eldest son, who had already conquered an entire kingdom by the age of 21 and radiated a formidable aura, the younger son, at 13, showed no sign of talent. There was not even a trace of aura within him.
---
"Look at him. Are you certain that the second son is truly the direct descendant of the Demon King, Elder Orc?" one of the elders asked, his voice laced with doubt.
The Demon King was furious at the orc elder's words, releasing a suffocating, murderous aura. Fear instantly gripped everyone in the room.
"Forgive my insolence, Your Majesty," the orc elder trembled as he bowed deeply.
Hara could only remain silent, for he knew that the orc elder was not wrong.
"If you dare to insult my offspring, you insult me as well. Do you all understand?" the Demon King asked in an intimidating tone.
"Understood, Your Majesty!" the entire hall responded in unison.
---
"Prince, three hours southwest from here lies a place perfect for training your aura!" said Elder Wolf to Hara.
"Really? Can that place truly help me awaken my aura?"
"I believe so, Prince. There are no guarantees, but wouldn't it be worth trying?"
"What are you talking about, Elder Wolf?" Branka, having overheard the conversation, asked in an intimidating tone.
"I was merely informing the prince about a place that might help him awaken his aura."
"Brother, can you help me get permission from Father to train there? Please, Brother!" Hara pleaded earnestly.
"Raise your head. A demon bows to no one!" Branka scolded. "Very well. I will request permission from Father, and I will personally oversee your training."
Branka went to the Demon King and presented the request. The Demon King, though slightly surprised, granted permission since Branka would accompany his younger brother.
The reason for the Demon King's surprise was not without cause. The so-called training ground was, in reality, a treacherous valley teeming with demonic beasts and dragons. Sending someone with no talent there was akin to a death sentence. The air in that valley was so dense and toxic that even light struggled to penetrate the thick mist. There were no edible plants-only the flesh of demonic beasts, dragons, and other terrifying creatures.
Among demons, consuming dragon flesh was considered utter foolishness. The meat was so poisonous that even heroes and high-ranking demons-renowned for their durability, ten times greater than ordinary demon soldiers-had perished from it.
Nevertheless, the Demon King granted permission. Hara, filled with determination, believed he could become stronger through this training.
---
The Next Day
Hara, Elder Wolf, and Branka set off for the valley. Along the way, Hara witnessed countless acts of cruelty-oppression of weaker demons, merciless slaughter, and other horrors. Though he had seen such things many times before, he still could not grow accustomed to them.
"Do you pity them?" Branka asked.
Hara remained silent, but his expression gave away his thoughts.
"There is no need to pity them," Branka stated coldly. "The weak will always be oppressed. If they wish for a higher status, they must become strong enough to fight back."
Hara hesitated before asking, "From the books I've read, why does nothing like this happen in the human world?"
"Books?" Branka scoffed. "Who knows? But understand this-humans are cunning creatures. Sometimes, they can be even more ruthless than demons. Not everything written is the truth. Do you understand?"
Hara fell silent, deep in thought.
Without realizing it, they had arrived at the valley.
---
"Alright, princes, I will guide you so you do not stray too deep into the valley. Now, put on these masks," Elder Wolf instructed.
As they stepped inside, an overwhelming pressure bore down on them. Branka and Elder Wolf soon stopped in their tracks.
"Hara, your training begins now. Survive here for as long as possible. Hunt smaller creatures for food. You may only remove your mask inside a cave, and under no circumstances should you eat any dragon meat. If things become too dangerous, I will come for you!" Branka commanded.
"Alright, Brother," Hara replied.
He ventured deeper into the valley, attempting to hunt various demonic beasts-but every attempt ended in failure.
Twenty days passed, and Hara had yet to catch anything.
Then, he stumbled upon a dragon's carcass.
At this point, his mind was clouded. He had not slept in days, his stomach burned with hunger, and the valley's dense air made breathing almost impossible.
For a brief moment, he wondered what would happen without the enchanted mask that provided him with limited breathable air.
In his desperate state, without thinking, he ripped off his mask and devoured the dragon's flesh.
"You fool!"
Branka and Elder Wolf, who had been monitoring him from 10 kilometers away, panicked and rushed toward him.
Branka reached Hara within a minute, but what he saw left him in shock-his brother was neither poisoned nor suffocating.
"This rotten meat tastes terrible," Hara muttered.
When Elder Wolf arrived, he was just as stunned.
"Prince, why are you still unharmed?" he asked, disbelief in his voice.
"What do you mean?" Hara asked, confused as he continued eating.
"You are consuming dragon flesh. On top of that, it's a carcass-it should be even more poisonous!" Elder Wolf exclaimed, momentarily forgetting his place.
"I don't know... All I know is that it tastes awful. If I think about it, I did struggle to breathe earlier, but now I feel fine," Hara replied.
Branka and Elder Wolf were utterly dumbfounded. Even Branka had to regulate his aura to breathe in this valley, yet his brother was standing there, unaffected.
"Hara, it seems you are not without talent. From now on, I will personally train you and uncover your true potential. I believe you can even surpass me," Branka declared.
Elder Wolf was speechless.
Hara, exhausted, simply collapsed into sleep.
Little did they know, they were witnessing the birth of a legend.