Some years ago...
From one city to another, a village among dozens of small villages, and crowded places filled with screams of pain. Dozens, hundreds, even thousands of people screamed and ran until they fell and died on the spot without a chance to see their surroundings again.
Flames devoured their homes. The ground they walked on became slick from the pools of blood flowing along the streets. Swords infused with inner energy were swung cruelly, fire and poison arrows flew from every direction, and spearheads were raised, not for justice.
War does not recognize "justice." Nor does it know mercy. Swords become weapons, and every ordinary person becomes a murderer.
There is no word for "mercy," nor is there any pity, because all of that would be in vain on the land called the "Battlefield."
A 5-year-old boy who had just returned from the river, carrying a bucket of fresh fish, was shocked into silence as he saw his small village wiped out, leaving nothing but the rubble of houses and bodies scattered on the streets.
"Find any survivors! Don't let a single person get away! Not even an ant!" shouted a street soldier, giving orders to his men.
Hearing the sound of footsteps and the strong vibrations from the horses' hooves, the boy was immediately panicked. Before he returned to his home, which had been burnt to ashes by the fire, the boy quickly hid in a muddy river nearby.
"The houses in this village have been completely burned, so no one can still be alive."
"Don't be careless. Don't make the same mistake as in the previous small town. Even though this is just a village with no soldiers, we don't need to show them mercy."
"But what if there really is no one left?"
"Hmm, if there really is no one left, then we don't need to stay long in such a squalid place."
The man who held a high rank and had the right to command them then turned around.
"But if you find one person, be it a man, a woman, or even a child, don't hesitate to kill them. Remember our priority!" the man yelled again.
"Yes!" five of them answered in unison.
The boy escaped after hiding in the muddy river, risking his life and holding his breath with all his might. Finally, the boy's struggle to survive paid off.
For only a few days, he could breathe a sigh of relief, but not after that, because the era of war was still ongoing. He was so small and had nothing. Forget about having influence from important people; he didn't even have a home, let alone clothes.
Therefore, to survive in this cruel era and world, he had to rely on himself. Even so, no one can live alone without help, including the boy.
"Kid, life is tough. Why do you have to live all alone when you can die without burdening the people around you?" A fleeting comment from a soldier, whether an enemy or not, had torn his heart.
A cynical taunt that wished he would die without being a burden. Although it made sense, he didn't want to just die like that.
Until one day, he returned to the soldier. The ungrateful boy actually asked to be taught how to use a weapon.
The soldier and his comrades were shocked.
They were immediately silent with their mouths agape, thinking he was joking.
"Haha! A kid like you wants to learn? Your brain must have a hole in it."
"Hahaha! What a really interesting kid."
"Hey, let him try that scrap sword. Let's see if he can even lift it with such a small body!"
Some of them mocked, laughed, and even openly insulted him. The boy remained silent and firm in his desire to learn how to fight.
"Fine." A single word was said loudly, and the situation instantly fell silent. All curious eyes were on him.
That was the beginning of a boy named Yong being born as a combat expert. From the many weapons that were easier to use for killing, the boy chose two swords to represent his hands and feet.
Learning from enemy soldiers did not scare him. Even though those soldiers had killed his parents, Yong did not seem to care about it. Yong preferred to take advantage of the adults to teach him many things about combat.
He did everything for himself, for his future, and for his daily survival. But all of that vanished in an instant when a demonic spirit took up residence in his body.
***
Back to the time when Yong had turned into a demon.
In the secret cave behind the mountain.
Yong sat kneeling with both his hands and feet chained separately. He slowly opened his eyes, which had returned to normal. The red horns had also shrunk. Then the nails on his fingers had also shrunk.
"After expending energy by being angry, he seems to be very tired. It's been five hours since he fell asleep."
"He will wake up soon. But make sure you are careful with your words later, because the person you are facing is still a child."
"Yes, I understand. Don't keep warning us like we're kids."
Several people sat in front of Yong with various expressions. He didn't know any of them, and Yong himself didn't want to get to know them.
"You're awake? Hey, kid. Can I know your current condition?" asked a large man, the one who had scaly hands before.
"I'm not doing well," Yong answered in a low voice.
"Ah, I see."
"How can you ask about his condition when all those chains are on his body!" exclaimed the person next to him.
"I'm just asking. Why have you been angry all this time?"
"That's because you—!"
"Shut up. Go away, you crazy people," Yong said contemptuously with a flat expression.
He didn't even hesitate to say all those insults among the conversation of adults.
The situation instantly became silent for a moment. The large man did not seem to care about Yong's harsh words, but some of his other colleagues did, they were clearly very angry and insulted.
"You insolent brat!" A man who was initially lecturing the large man was the angriest one there.
"Why? Are my words wrong? You locked me up and said a lot of illogical things. Why shouldn't I call you crazy people?" Yong retorted bravely.
The people now held back their anger with all their might, while the man he had fought earlier approached Yong without any worry or caution. Such a thing was not needed by him. He deliberately approached him because he wanted to state the purpose of their group.
"We are a group of wanderers who were originally swordsmen. We were cursed into monsters, evil spirits, or other similar things, just like you," he said while pointing at Yong's small horns.
"I know. I've realized it. I don't even remember how to hold a sword anymore. I also realized that my transformation is very strange," Yong said, lowering his head.
"So you knew."
The man then smiled, showing his sharp pupils. Yong felt that this man was no longer human, but behind his appearance, which had once looked terrifying, Yong realized that that man and the others had a great ambition.
"Come with us, Dual Swordsman, Yong!" he exclaimed, asking Yong to join them.