Before dawn, it was always darkest.
The reason evil demons were called evil demons could be seen through their deeds: destruction, slaughter, madness, trading the misery of other living beings for so-called freedom, like a plague.
Where demons appeared, chaos reigned, violating nature like an inferno.
Forests and fertile fields had been scorched by raging flames. Charred remains and burnt corpses carpeted the ground. The river water was polluted, murky, and foul-smelling. A river barge in the channel showed only its mast, while waves repeatedly shoved foam and bloated, pallid corpses onto the shore. By the bank, a small low-ranking demonic beast crawled on all fours.
It had gray, shriveled skin, skinny limbs, a swollen belly, and a few sparse hairs atop its head.
"Eat... eat..."
Its cloudy eyes suddenly lit up.
With splashes, it waded into the mudflat and picked up a long-dead, rotten, stinking fish with white eyes.
It stuffed the fish into its mouth, its yellowed teeth tearing into the foul flesh. Stinking drool ran from the corners of its mouth as it chewed, while the waves and foam washed over its filthy legs. Every so often, it raised its head to look at the embankment billowing with thick smoke.
For a long while, the clang of weapons had continued from the other side of the embankment.
Occasional roars and curses could be heard.
After swallowing the rotten fish, the small low-ranking demonic beast found a river crab that had been dead for a long time.
It clamped the crab in its mouth and climbed the embankment. Its nails, covered in scratches and grime, clawed into the ground as it ran. Huffing and puffing, it climbed to the very top of the embankment. The moment it poked its head up and saw the battlefield on the other