The center of the Demon Realm.
A place where the sky gaped open like a torn wound.
Through that rift, red lightning and black gales raged incessantly—a land of calamity known as the 'Heart of Chaos.'
On the outskirts of this perilous land, where no ordinary demon would dare approach, a massive fortress stood bizarrely out of place.
Above the walls built from roughly hewn rocks and the bones of monsters, a giant flag emblazoned with the character 'Dong (董)' fluttered in the red sandstorm.
"Hey! Can't you stand in line properly?"
The entrance to the fortress was bustling with demon merchants and refugees trying to pay the toll.
They were those who had fled the monsters pouring from the dimensional rift, flocking to the relative safety of 'Dong Zhuo's Territory.'
"H-hey. Does it make sense that the toll is double what it was last month?"
An old goblin merchant pulling a wagon protested with a tearful face.
At this, the massive ogre soldier guarding the gate snorted and slammed his iron club onto the ground with a thud.
"If you don't like it, get lost."
"No, but there should be some business ethics..."
"You stupid fool. Who do you think allows you to even conduct business here?"
The ogre jerked his chin toward the wilderness beyond the walls.
There, twisted monsters that had spewed from the rift were howling, blocked by the fortress's barrier.
"You're only alive because the great Lord Dong Zhuo is blocking the 'Heart of Chaos.' If you don't know the grace of the Demon King, you're worse than a beast."
"T-that's true, but..."
"Cut the chatter and pay up. Or pay the toll with your own meat."
When the ogre bared his hideous teeth and growled, the goblin merchant, terrified, emptied his pockets and offered everything he had.
A world where might makes right.
In this central region, Dong Zhuo was the absolute king and savior. Even if the price of that salvation was ruthless exploitation.
Chatter, chatter.
The scene inside the walls was not much different.
Soldiers staggered around drunk, while powerless lower demons bowed and scraped, walking on eggshells around them.
It looked rough and disorderly, but it was a violent peace strictly controlled under the powerful might of 'Dong Zhuo.'
That was the world Dong Zhuo ruled.
Thud. Thud.
Just then, a man wearing a worn beast-skin cloak walked toward the noisy gate.
Long black hair fluttering in the sandstorm.
In his hand, he held a crude iron spear, rusted to the core.
The man walked past the crowds and soldiers indifferently, like a ghost, heading straight through the center of the gate.
"What the hell is that guy?"
The ogre soldier collecting tolls twitched his eyebrows.
It was the first time someone had walked past so boldly without standing in line or paying.
"Hey! You there, looking like a beggar! Stop!"
The ogre shouted loud enough to burst eardrums and blocked the man's path.
His bulk was massive enough to cast a shadow over the man's entire body.
But the man didn't stop.
No, he continued to walk calmly, as if there was nothing in front of him, or as if the giant blocking his way was less significant than a rolling stone on the roadside.
"..."
The man's eyes were deep and still.
Eyes filled with a terrible ennui, as if he could not bear the boredom of the world.
It was the wandering warrior, Lu Bu.
"Hey! Can't you hear me?"
Boom!
With a massive vibration, dust rose from the ground.
The ogre soldier blocking Lu Bu slammed his iron club into the ground and growled menacingly.
His height was easily three meters. A dark shadow loomed over Lu Bu's head.
"I don't know where a rat like you rolled in from, but do you know where this is to hold your head up so high?"
The ogre bared his yellow teeth and smiled viciously.
Other soldiers nearby giggled and surrounded Lu Bu.
"If you don't have money, pay with your body. Leave an arm or a leg for the toll and get lost. It'll make a good snack for tonight."
A brutal threat.
But Lu Bu's reaction completely defied their expectations.
"Yaaawn..."
Without even looking up at the ogre, Lu Bu let out a long yawn.
It was an attitude that said the giant in front of him didn't matter, or that even a barking dog by the roadside was too bothersome to acknowledge.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes and spoke quietly.
"Move. You're noisy."
"...What?"
The ogre's brow crumpled instantly.
A mere lower demon daring to ignore him, an elite of Dong Zhuo's army.
In an instant, the ogre's face turned bright red.
"You arrogant bastard! You must be dying to die!"
Whoosh—!
The ogre lifted the iron club, the size of a human torso, high into the air.
It wasn't a simple threat. With the intent to smash Lu Bu's head like a watermelon, the hideous blunt weapon fell, cutting through the wind.
There was nowhere to dodge.
Just as the soldiers licked their lips, anticipating a bloody spectacle.
Shing—
There was no dull sound of impact.
Instead, only the eerie sound of something being sliced softly like tofu rang out briefly.
"Huh...?"
The ogre's eyes widened.
The weight of the heavy iron club in his hand had suddenly vanished.
He turned his gaze blankly.
The upper part of the steel-forged club had been sliced diagonally and was rolling on the ground.
A smooth cross-section, as if cut by a master blade.
But the surprise didn't end there.
"Gu... ugh?"
The moment the ogre opened his mouth to say something.
A distinct red line was drawn across his neck.
Thud.
His massive head soared into the air.
Blood sprayed like a fountain from the severed neck.
Splaaash—!
Red blood scattered in all directions.
But strangely, not a single drop of blood touched Lu Bu's body as he walked through the rain of gore.
He was already walking past the spot indifferently, even before the ogre's body hit the ground.
In his hand, there was still only the shabby, rusted iron spear.
Only the drop of blood forming on the tip of that old spear proved what had just happened.
Thump!
Belatedly, the headless body of the ogre crashed to the ground with a loud noise.
"..."
Silence.
A perfect stillness, where not even the sound of breathing could be heard, dominated the front of the gate.
The soldiers who had been giggling and surrounding Lu Bu just moments ago stepped back in terror.
Their faces were pale as sheets, as if they had seen a ghost.
What just happened?
Did that man even swing his spear?
Before overwhelming martial power, even anger was a luxury. Only instinctive fear grabbed their ankles.
Clap, clap, clap.
Breaking the brutal silence, a slow and heavy applause rang out.
Amidst the held breath of everyone, a man walked out from the massive tent at the innermost part of the camp.
Golden armor wrapping muscles that looked ready to burst.
Overwhelming spirit that shook the earth with every step.
It was the prime appearance of the 'Demon King' Dong Zhuo, who commanded the center of the Demon Realm before he was consumed by greed.
"Magnificent! It's the first time I've seen someone catch my vanguard captain like swatting a passing fly."
Even though his subordinate had been decapitated, Dong Zhuo welcomed Lu Bu with a hearty laugh instead of anger.
Only then did Lu Bu stop walking. He turned his head to look at Dong Zhuo.
"..."
Lu Bu's eyes narrowed. This one was different from the ogre he had just cut down. The fighting spirit radiating from his body was quite heavy.
"You look somewhat useful."
Lu Bu adjusted his grip on the rusted spear and smirked.
"Want to fight?"
Arrogance beyond measure.
The surrounding guards, terrified, tried to draw their swords, but Dong Zhuo raised a hand to stop them.
Instead, he jerked his chin toward a corner of the camp.
"Save your strength. Your opponent isn't me, but that one over there."
"...?"
Lu Bu's gaze turned to where Dong Zhuo pointed.
There stood a massive cage wrapped in black chains as thick as a child's waist.
Hiiiiiiigh—!!
A tearing horse cry cut through the air.
Inside the cage, a single red horse, burning like charcoal, was rampaging madly.
It was no ordinary horse.
A monster spewing crimson demonic energy like lightning from its four legs, gnawing at the steel shackles as if to crush them.
Beneath the beast's hooves lay the corpses of trampled trainers.
Skulls crushed, chests caved in—wretched sights.
"That is Red Hare."
Dong Zhuo said, licking his lips.
"It runs a thousand li in a day and is stronger than most generals. Its temper is so foul it wouldn't even let me ride it. Try to force it, and you'll end up like those trainers."
A ferocious demonic beast that even Dong Zhuo, called the Demon King, could not handle.
But the moment he saw that red beast, Lu Bu's pupils, dead from boredom, dilated with interest for the first time.
Dong Zhuo did not miss that change in expression.
"Let's make a deal, Lu Bu."
"..."
"Instead of paying for my dead subordinate's life, I'll give you that horse. If you can ride it, that is."
Dong Zhuo grinned and held out his hand.
"However, if you succeed, become my son. I will share my world with you."
An unprecedented offer from the ruler of the Demon Realm.
But Lu Bu didn't hear words like 'share the world' or 'become my son.'
His gaze was fixed solely on the horse wrapped in red lightning.
The only existence in this world that seemed capable of handling his speed.
Lu Bu's lips curled up into a twisted smile.
Instead of answering, Lu Bu moved his feet.
His steps were unhesitating.
He approached the rampaging red monster calmly, like a man going to meet an old friend.
"T-that crazy bastard! Is he trying to get himself killed?"
The surrounding soldiers murmured.
Dozens of trainers had their heads smashed just by approaching that horse.
No matter how strong Lu Bu was, it seemed impossible to withstand the hooves of a beast that had lost its reason.
Kieeeek—!!
Sure enough.
Sensing a strange presence, Red Hare roared ferociously and reared up its front legs.
Giant hooves wrapped in red lightning crashed down toward the crown of Lu Bu's head. Destructive power that would turn even a boulder to dust.
But Lu Bu didn't dodge.
Without blinking an eye, he simply stared up at the falling hooves.
'No need to dodge.'
From deep within his eyes, a fighting spirit dark as the abyss poured out.
It wasn't simple killing intent.
The absolute aura of a War God, built up by traversing countless battlefields, crushing the instincts of living creatures.
Vooooom—!
Red Hare's red lightning and Lu Bu's black fighting spirit collided head-on in midair.
An invisible wave shook the atmosphere.
"...!"
A moment of silence, as if time had stopped.
The descending hooves of Red Hare stopped unbelievably just a span away from Lu Bu's nose.
The horse knew instinctively.
That this small, frail-looking human standing before it was, in fact, a monster far more ferocious and dangerous than itself.
Pruuu...
Red Hare exhaled a rough breath and slowly lowered its front legs.
The red eyes that had flashed with madness calmed down. It was a clear sign of submission.
"Good boy."
Lu Bu smirked and reached out his hand.
Crackling red currents stung his fingertips, but he didn't care and stroked the coarse mane. The horse accepted the touch without resistance.
As if there was no need to break the chains, Lu Bu lightly leaped onto the horse's back.
Thud.
A perfect ride, as if they were one body from the start.
This beast was completely accepting the fighting spirit that no other horse had ever withstood.
"Hahaha! Did you see that!"
Watching the spectacle, Dong Zhuo slapped his knee in admiration.
"As expected, a beast recognizes a beast! Indeed, I have an eye for people!"
On the horse, clutching the rough mane with his bare hand, Lu Bu turned his gaze toward Dong Zhuo, who was looking up at him.
Like a child who had found a favorite toy for the first time in a boring world, the corners of his mouth curled up in satisfaction.
From atop the horse, he bowed his head politely, yet without losing his arrogance.
"Shall I call you Father?"
At those words, Dong Zhuo's grin stretched from ear to ear.
The Demon King threw his arms open and laughed heartily.
"Yes! My son! From this day forth, I will share everything I have with you!"
Dong Zhuo's laughter, tearing through the sky, and Red Hare's cry, announcing the birth of its master, filled the Heart of Chaos.
That was the very moment the 'worst father and son duo,' who would later drive the Demon Realm into terror, was born.