PROLOGUE

As the clock struck ten, the sun cast its golden rays over our vibrant realm, a bustling metropolis where an array of races—demons, elves, and vampires—mingled like threads in a rich tapestry. Each race claimed their space, weaving a complex society that felt like a world unto itself.

Their purpose for gathering here? To seize us, the humans, and bind us in chains of servitude. Ever since the demon overlord claimed dominion over our lands, we've been relegated to the status of mere chattel.

We resigned ourselves to this grim fate, believing it was our lot in life, for there was no sanctuary beyond these borders. Over the years, we have learned to navigate this oppressive system, adapting as best we could, for it has been more than a hundred years since the fall of the human kingdom. Yet, amidst the shadows of despair, a flicker of hope still glimmers.

My mother sent me to a store on the outskirts of town to pick up some essentials. As I made my way back home, lost in thought, I suddenly found myself face-to-face with a group of demon soldiers. In the bustling heart of the city, where people were immersed in their own lives, these creatures lurked, intent on causing trouble.

"Hey, kid! What's that you're carrying?" one of them barked, his voice full of menace.

Fear gripped me. I knew they weren't just any ordinary troublemakers—these demons were known to torment anyone human who crossed their path. With their muscular frames, aged around 25, and a pair of small horns on their foreheads—markings that all demons shared—there was no mistaking who they were.

Panicking, I knew I had to escape before things escalated. I darted down a side street, hoping to lose them, but their pursuit was relentless. They weren't about to let me go so easily.

"Dammit! They're getting too close!" I muttered to myself, my breath coming in sharp gasps as I sprinted through the streets. In a desperate attempt to shake them off, I darted into narrow alleys, weaving through the maze of the city. But no matter how many turns I took, they were always right behind me.

One of the demons surged forward, grabbing for the bag I was clutching. Before I could react, his hand struck me, sending me crashing to the ground. A sharp pain shot through my ankle as it twisted beneath me.

The demon's voice was low and mocking. "That's what happens to a human who thinks they can escape."

I gritted my teeth, struggling to stand. I realized then that this wasn't about the bag—it was about sending a message. They weren't interested in what I had; they wanted to break me, to show me just how powerless I was.

"You really think someone like you can outrun us?" the demon laughed, his voice dripping with arrogance. "We demons don't need to worry about your weakness. Our power is all we need to get what we want."

As they loomed over me, their supernatural confidence was clear. They didn't need anything more than their abilities to crush anyone who stood in their way.

Despite my desperate attempt to escape, one of the demons shoved me back roughly leaned me against a wall,preparing to deliver more punishment.

"Enough!" a commanding voice rang out, stopping them in their tracks.

I looked up, startled. A young man, no older than seventeen, stood before me. His appearance was striking, dressed in regal attire that shimmered with royal insignia, as though he belonged to a world far beyond my own. His voice, calm yet firm, carried an air of authority.

"Who is that?" I thought, confused and unable to look away.

"That's the Second Prince," one of the demons muttered under his breath.

In an instant, the demons dropped to one knee in a show of respect, their faces filled with unease. The prince surveyed the scene with quiet intensity. "What's going on here?" he asked, his tone laced with authority.

"We were… punishing this human for fleeing," one of the demons stammered, clearly caught off guard by the prince's sudden appearance.

"I see," the prince replied, his voice calm but final. "I'll handle this from here. You may leave."

With a swift motion, the demons rose and retreated, their earlier confidence crumbling in the face of the prince's presence. The prince bent down, picking up the fallen bag and extending a hand to help me to my feet.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his gaze softening for a moment.

I nodded, grateful but still bewildered. "I'm fine, thanks to you. But… why are you helping me?"

The prince shrugged lightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I was just passing through. You seemed like you needed a hand."

"My name is Anos," he said, his voice calm and sincere. "I'm truly sorry for what they did to you."

I had always known that demons enjoyed tormenting humans, seeing us as weak and inferior. But in that moment, as I looked at Anos, something told me there might be more to him than the others. Perhaps there were decent demons after all.

"I'm Leo," I replied, still trying to make sense of the situation.

"Wow, what a beautiful name," Anos said with a warm smile. It was unexpected, and for a brief moment, it made me feel at ease.

"So, where were you heading?" he asked, his curiosity genuine.

"I was just trying to get home. That's when I ran into those demon bullies," I explained, still feeling the sting of the encounter.

Anos looked at me with a hopeful expression. "Please, let me come with you."

I blinked in surprise. "What makes you want to want to come with me?" I asked, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "I might get into trouble."

He looked down, a hint of sadness crossing his face. "You see… I've never left the castle. I've always wanted to see the outside world.some guards are probably looking for me by now—but before they find me, I want to experience freedom. I want to have fun out here, just for a little while."

His explanation tugged at my heart. There was something so raw and human in his words, despite him being a demon. For the first time, I felt like I understood him—like we weren't so different after all.

I couldn't bring myself to turn him away—after all, Anos had helped the first place. So, with a reluctant yet grateful heart, I agreed, and we headed to my home together.

As we walked, I found my mind racing, filled with questions I hadn't dared to ask before. Finally, I spoke up, unable to hold it in any longer. "I'm sorry to ask, but… you seem different from the other demons I've seen."

Anos glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "Why do you ask?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to phrase my feelings. "It's just... I've grown up watching demons and other races act like they're above us, treating us like we're nothing because they have powers we don't. It's always been like that, and it's hard to see anything else."

Anos looked thoughtful, his gaze distant for a moment. "You're right," he said quietly. "We demons have power, and some misuse it. That's why they act the way they do. But I'm not like them."

A wave of relief washed over me at his words. There was something genuine in his voice, something that didn't align with the cruel demons I'd known all my life. "I'm glad to hear that," I said with a soft smile. "There's no way a good-looking guy like you could be like those bullies."

Anos chuckled, a warm, appreciative laugh that made my heart flutter a little. "Well, thank you for the compliment," he replied, his smile matching mine.

It was the first time in a long while I felt like I was talking to a demon who saw me, not just as a human, but as a person. And for the first time, I began to wonder if maybe there were more to demons than I'd been led to believe.

"My mom always says that we humans once lived peacefully in a kingdom under the rule of a just king," I began, my voice quiet as memories of my mother's stories flooded my mind. "We were powerless, but we were content. We lived simple lives, full of happiness and peace. But then, one day our magic fade away,for the selfish ambitions of others, we were made to seem like nothing. Because we didn't possess any extraordinary abilities like the demons or elves, we were seen as inferior. Our kingdom was attacked, many of us lost our lives, and others were enslaved. The demon race—the strongest of them all—took control, and now we live under their rule."

I paused, swallowing the lump in my throat before continuing. "We had no choice but to accept it, because there was nothing we could do. It was like our fate was sealed. But my mom always believed that one day, a hero would rise—a hero who would free us from the grasp of the other races. That's what she told me, and I still hold on to that hope."

Anos was silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Finally, he spoke, his voice softer than I expected. "I've never heard that story before, but it's... a good one," he said quietly. "The way demons are treating humans, it's wrong. It's not right to live without freedom, no matter who you are. I wish for everyone to have the same chance at peace in this world."

His words took me by surprise. I had never imagined a demon would think that way. For a brief moment, I found myself staring at him, trying to comprehend what he had just said. And then it hit me—the hope in his words, the sincerity in his voice. Despite everything, despite being a demon, he wasn't like the others. He was offering me a glimpse of something I thought had been lost forever: hope.

For the first time, I began to wonder if maybe, just maybe, the world wasn't as divided as I'd always believed.

When we finally arrived home, I led Anos inside to meet my mother. She was only 33, though she had a grace that made her seem even younger—her slim frame and long brown hair, tied loosely in a braid, gave her an effortless beauty. She was dressed in simple home clothes, and as I stood beside her, we could easily have been mistaken for siblings.

At first, my mother was taken aback. Her eyes widened when she saw the prince standing at our door, but after I explained the situation, her tension eased, and she gave him a warm, if cautious, smile.

I'd never known my father—he had passed away when I was just three. Since then, it had always been my mother and me. I was endlessly grateful to her for raising me on her own, giving me a home full of love and stability.

We lived in a humble house just outside the kingdom—a small, modest cottage with a garden that my mother took great pride in. I had worried that the prince, accustomed to a life of luxury, might find our old-fashioned home unremarkable, but as I watched him take in our simple surroundings, I could see that he didn't seem bothered by it at all.

After we shared a modest but hearty lunch, we decided to step outside and enjoy the fresh air. Anos had mentioned how he'd never really had the chance to experience nature beyond the walls of the castle, and I could tell it was something he deeply longed for. As we walked through the fields, he marveled at the sights, the sound of the wind rustling through the trees, and the feeling of freedom that seemed to surround him.

I had expected this—his wide-eyed wonder, the joy in his voice as he discovered things so simple yet so new to him—and I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. For the first time in a long while, it seemed like he wasn't a prince, or a demon, or anything else that set us apart. In that moment, we were simply two people enjoying the world around us.

"Hey, Anos... can you teach me how to fight?" I asked, hesitating for a moment. The question felt out of place, and I worried it might sound strange. "I know it's random, and it's okay if you don't want to, I won't force you."

Anos met my gaze, his eyes glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light. After a brief pause, he nodded. "Okay."

I blinked, surprised by how easily he agreed. It wasn't every day a demon prince offered to teach a human to fight. A rush of excitement and nervousness surged through me. I didn't have any supernatural powers like others, but I'd always wanted to learn how to defend myself.

"Since you don't have any supernatural abilities," Anos continued, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of his immense power, "I'll teach you the basics—how to guard, block, and maybe deflect a few low-level attacks. But don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're human."

His words were a clear challenge, and I could feel the weight of them. I knew I had no chance, but I wasn't going to back down. I had to try. I couldn't let this opportunity pass.

We stood a few meters apart, and the air seemed to thicken, an oppressive force emanating from Anos. His demonic aura pulsed around him, unseen but unmistakable. The energy was so palpable I could feel it pressing against me, heavy and almost suffocating.

I charged at him, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I threw punches with everything I had, but Anos moved with unnatural speed. His every motion was fluid and precise, like a predator dodging its prey with little effort. Each of my strikes missed by mere inches as he easily evaded them.

Then, with the speed of a lightning strike, Anos closed the distance between us. Before I could even react, his fist connected with my face in a sharp, brutal blow. The force of the punch sent my head snapping back, and my vision blurred for a moment as a wave of pain shot through me. I staggered backward, barely able to keep my footing.

The world tilted, and I felt myself losing consciousness, the edges of my vision darkening. Anos looked at me, his glowing eyes wide with surprise, as I crumpled to the ground. His demonic aura seemed to waver for a brief moment, a flicker of concern flashing across his face.

"Hey, are you okay?" His voice was softer now, and I could hear the faintest hint of surprise in it. He knelt beside me, his gaze fixed on me as my consciousness slipped away, his powerful presence still overwhelming in the air around us.

I didn't hear much else as everything faded to black.

The next day it was morning, I woke with a start, my eyes darting around in confusion. I was back in my bedroom—a small, modest square room with only a bed and a tiny wooden table. The sunlight filtered in through the window, casting soft beams across the floor. But all I could think about was Anos.

I jumped out of bed, heart racing. I rushed outside, scanning the area frantically, hoping to find him. But he wasn't there. I cursed under my breath, realizing that there was no way he'd stayed behind. He had to have returned to the castle. My heart sank at the thought of missing my chance to train with him, to learn how to fight. The opportunity had slipped through my fingers, and I couldn't stop regretting it.

Determined not to let it go, I quickly headed inside, where I found my mother already preparing breakfast. I could always count on her to provide for me, no matter what was going on in my life.

After quickly finishing my meal, I bolted outside and made my way toward the city. I told myself there was no way I could have lost my chance forever. Surely I'd see him again. But after hours of searching, I still hadn't found him. My heart felt heavy with disappointment as I realized I wasn't going to get the chance to train after all.

I trudged back home, feeling defeated.

As I neared the house, I spotted my mother in our small front yard, tending to the flowers with a watering can. Her calm presence contrasted with the frustration I felt inside.

"Where have you been?" she asked, her voice light but curious as she looked up from her task.

"I went to see if I could find Anos again," I replied, my voice filled with regret. "We had some unfinished business."

Her eyes widened for a moment. "Anos? Oh, I almost forgot. He left you a message. He said that the next time you meet, you must be prepared."

I paused, trying to make sense of what she said. "Prepared for what?"

My mother smiled gently, but there was a knowing look in her eyes. "From what he told me, you need to strengthen yourself. He beat you in your last fight, didn't he? You'll need more than just willpower if you want to stand a chance next time."

Her words hit me like a cold splash of water. Of course—I had to get stronger, both physically and mentally, if I ever wanted to face him again. I had been naïve to think that just showing up would be enough.

That night, I made a decision. The next day, I would start my self-training.

The forest near our home became my sanctuary. As dawn broke, I ventured into the quiet woods, where I would train my body relentlessly, determined to grow stronger for the next time our paths crossed.

END OF CHAPTER