Demon Core

This world was divided into two continents. The western part was ruled by intelligent creatures, humans, elves, dwarves, and beast-men. While the eastern region was occupied by the demons.

The eastern continent, known as the demon continent, was where the Demon Lord and his army lived and bred.

There was a restriction that bounded the demon race. They can only live in what they call the Demon Domain. No, not that they couldn't get out of that place. They could. But their power would be reduced, so their overpowered ability would feel average compared to other races.

For that reason, they spent most of their time in their own area. Occasionally, getting out of the demon continent if some battle had to be fought.

A majestic castle stood at the continent's center, where the demon's strength was focused. A court where the Demon Lord lived and was sitting on his throne at that moment.

A man with pale white skin and a pair of dark horns seemingly sticking out from his head. He was the Demon Lord, sitting on his throne with a red-bound book in his hand.

"There is something that needs to change. At least I need to take immediate action to ensure my supremacy."

The Demon Lord muttered under his breath, touching his chin. He looked ahead as seven other demons walked over and kneeled.

"Salutes to your majesty, the Demon Lord."

The Demon Lord stood up and stepped slowly, getting close to the demons still sitting on their knees.

"We need to stop doing this stupid thing!"

The Demon Lord's footsteps stopped, and he looked at the demon sitting on the far right. He was the first demon general, the strongest after the Demon Lord, his most reliable right-hand man.

"Do you know? What makes our existence seem like a joke?"

Every demon in front of the Demon Lord looked confused by their lord's statement. Unlike usual, their lord asked a question that seemed ambiguous like this.

"We only get our potential power when we exist in a demon domain, but not on the outside."

The Demon Lord continued, saying in a loud and resolute voice, echoing through the room that could accommodate hundreds of people.

"Your Majesty, we would have been able to take over the world if we could solve that problem."

The first demon general gave a justified answer to what his lord had said.

"Correct, but actually, there is a solution for this."

A solution? Has the great Demon Lord found a solution that the demons have faced for hundreds of years? The generals looked even more confused by their lord's statement.

"We ask for enlightenment from your Majesty."

"Demon! It happens because we are demons. But not Half-Demon!"

If the demons were a race created from darkness, then a Half-Demon was a lowly demon who got the grace to join their race.

Half-demons only become trash in the end. They even got shameful treatment by demons. Because, for them, only pure-blooded demons may bear the name.

The Demon Lord walked, approaching the general standing on the far left, the seventh general.

The demon general's head smashed on the floor, shattering the black marble layer with his head half-submerged. The Demon Lord's foot was now pressing and locking onto it. Something that happened in a split second. No one in the room could follow his movements.

The other six demons could only watch as their comrade looked miserable and couldn't even make a voice.

"Half demons are too weak, your Majesty. They are no match for our pure blood."

"I don't need you to lecture me."

"Forgive me, your Majesty!"

The first demon general tried to keep his cool by continuing to answer the discussion the Demon Lord had given him.

"They are weak because they are injected with a weak core. What if we inject them with a general grade one?"

Actually, there was no other way to create a half-demon except to inherit it from another demon. Demon Core is the living core of demons that can only be extracted when the creature dies. By performing a ritual and implanting the core into another body, the vessel can inherit the powers of the initial body. But of course, not everyone can accept that power. The higher the core tier, the less likely it is to succeed.

"You are right, your Majesty. It might happen. However, finding a vessel that can accept the burden is difficult."

"That's why I asked you to do the task. Bring that person here."

"Excuse me, your Majesty, which person do you mean?"

"The human I asked you to bring here a few days ago."

The first general immediately stood up and then disappeared from its place. A few seconds later, he reappeared with a young human with him. A young man with blonde hair and sharp eyes.

The Demon Lord was still standing on the same spot, with his right foot pressing his subordinate onto the floor.

"Greetings to your Majesty, the Demon Lord."

The young man kneeled down and saluted the strongest demon in the room.

"Welcome to my domain."

The first demon general returned to his knees and reiterated the curiosity still brewing in his mind.

"Excuse me, your Majesty, about the general core grade, you mean?"

If indeed the Demon Lord intended to pass down a high-grade demon core to the only human standing in that place. Of course, the life of one of the 7 generals had to be paid for. Knowing this, none of the demon generals could hold their breath. Even swallowing their saliva was hard for them.

There was no way for generals who had dedicated their lives to be treated like this. But what their lord said didn't seem to be a joke.

"Indeed, a core from one of you."

The Demon Lord raised his pale right hand, which now appeared long and pointed dark black nails. He made a light movement. Instantly, a demon body whose head was separated from its body and dripping dark red blood lay in the room.