The moon sank and the stars slanted westward. A strange horse, its entire body covered in black scales, galloped onward. Even with a carriage full of people in tow, it showed no sign of strain.
"If the bloodline of a demon is this powerful, what must a true demon be like?" The young man, who had recovered a little from the grief of having to abandon his companions, glanced around uneasily and muttered under his breath.
He'd seen horses like these before, but he'd usually only marveled at their strength and speed, rarely connecting them to demons. Now that the Demonic Tide was on the verge of arriving, he couldn't help thinking about such things. One thought led to another, and the more he considered it, the more uneasy he grew.
"Even the most ordinary demon is as powerful as a human at the Seven Apertures," said his companion, a man with a small mustache, hearing his muttering. He snorted. "There are books about demons and evil spirits all over the city. You really don't know?"
The fight against the Nine Abysses was a matter for the whole race. Naturally, the people in power had others compile information about Demons and Evil Gods, so that everyone would know the basics and be able to respond accordingly if they encountered one.
The young man's face flushed. He stammered, "I, I don't like reading that stuff..."
During the last Demonic Tide, he'd been young and hadn't remembered much. He hadn't truly understood the cruelty it entailed—not until today.
"Stop whispering. Stay alert," Leader Li said gravely.
"Yes." The young man quickly answered. Almost without thinking, he looked at the leader's expressionless face and his single arm.
Back then, how heartbroken, pained, and despairing had the leader been?
The thought had barely crossed