Chapter 70: Gajia Academy 5 - About demons

The first page displayed a large illustration of the western continent, its land almost completely covered by a layer of dark ash. Beneath the image, several lines of text described the event that had shaped the region five centuries ago.

"Five hundred years ago, a volcanic eruption sent tremors throughout the western continent. The eruption covered the entire landmass in ash, plunging it beneath an eternal crimson light."

Akuma stared at the page for a moment, imagining an entire continent buried beneath volcanic ash. "So they live in a completely different kind of world..."

He continued reading, turning the page carefully. "This eruption diversified the demons into five major settlements: the Craterian, the Eandu, the Andu, the Earuknum, and the Liansu."

"Unlike the eastern continent, whose civilizations possess artifacts, each of the five demon settlements possesses a powerful stone native to its surrounding environment. The Craterian possesses the Bloodstone, the Eandu possesses the Earthstone, the Andu possesses the Airstone, the Earuknum possesses the Darkstone, and the Liansu possesses the Beaststone."

Akuma’s eyes widened slightly as he continued down the page. "No one knows what these stones specifically do, but they possess immense power when their energy is extracted."

He leaned closer to the book, rereading the passage carefully. He had never imagined that the demons possessed something comparable to the artifacts found throughout the eastern continent.

Until now, Akuma had thought of demons as nothing more than a solitary race living in the western continent, possessing technology and civilization roughly comparable to the mountain races. Yet the more he read, the more he realized how little he actually knew about them.

He turned another page.

An illustration immediately caught his attention.

It depicted the body of a demon in remarkable detail, showing its muscular red skin, long slicked-back hair, enormous fangs, and pointed snout. Beside the illustration were several measurements describing its physical structure.

"So this is what they’re supposed to look like..." Akuma murmured. "This is the first time I’ve ever seen an illustration of one."

His eyes moved downward.

The average demon stood roughly two and a half times the height of an ordinary human, with a frame considerably broader than most humanoid races. "They’re similar in size to Lizardmen, but much wider."

Akuma continued reading.

"However, demons possess little concept of morality and frequently engage in conflicts among themselves. The strongest individuals usually rise to positions of authority, while the weaker are forced to submit or perish."

Akuma’s expression gradually became more serious.

"They primarily sustain themselves through meat, consuming enormous quantities compared to other humanoid races. Interestingly, they rarely consume humans, considering human flesh disgusting and believing that their bodies provide too little meat to justify hunting them."

"Like beasts..." Akuma muttered.

He continued reading. "For countless generations, the demons remained largely isolated from the affairs of other continents. Their settlements were occupied with their own conflicts, resources, and internal struggles, while most considered the other races inferior to themselves."

Akuma’s eyes moved slowly across the next paragraph.

"However, several decades ago, a demon possessing extraordinary intelligence and overwhelming strength emerged. He conquered the remaining four settlements and brought them beneath his authority."

Akuma’s fingers stopped against the page.

"With his superior intellect, he declared that the western continent was far too narrow to accommodate the future of the demon race. He proclaimed that their people required greater territory, greater resources, and greater freedom."

Akuma’s expression hardened as he reached the final passage.

"He then openly announced that once his forces began their march, the entire world would eventually fall beneath his rule."

Akuma remained silent.

"So this is the upcoming calamity..."

He continued reading, moving through page after page as the book detailed the demons’ history, their settlements, their customs, their methods of warfare, and their interactions with the other races. The further he read, the more uncomfortable he became, because the demons were far more organized and developed than the rumors he had heard in his hometown suggested.

Eventually, Akuma reached the final page and slowly closed the book.

He remained seated for several moments, staring at its cover while his thoughts continued racing. "This is far more troublesome than what the others told us..."

His fingers tightened around the edge of the book.

"Are they suppressing information like this from us poor ones?"

Akuma eventually returned the book to its place before leaving the library. The journey back to his dormitory felt strangely quiet, and the knowledge he had gained refused to leave his mind.

Later that night, Akuma lay upon his bed and stared silently at the ceiling. The comfortable room around him felt different now, because for the first time since arriving at Gajia Academy, he understood that the peaceful life he had known could disappear at any moment.

"I need to get stronger."

His eyes slowly narrowed.

"Otherwise, I won’t be able to protect anyone I love."

Images of his peaceful hometown flashed through Akuma’s mind, bringing back the familiar sight of its quiet streets, simple houses, and the people he had grown up alongside. He couldn’t imagine those places reduced to ruins, nor could he accept the thought of watching the people he cared about become slaves beneath an invading army.

His imagination carried him even further, showing him a future where the demons had successfully conquered the continent and spread their influence across every settlement. The thought of being enslaved, hunted, or even devoured by creatures he had only recently learned about made his stomach tighten.

Akuma clenched his fists beneath the blanket.

I can’t let that happen.

The following morning, Akuma arrived at the same classroom where he had attended his first lesson. The room was already filled with students, their conversations carrying across the spacious hall as everyone waited for their instructor to arrive.

According to their schedule, today’s lesson would be different from yesterday’s introduction to the world. Today, the students of Gajia Academy would have their physical capabilities evaluated.

Moments later the beastmen instructor Raquan entered. "Prepare to go to the grounds"