"Damn it… I didn't expect the dimensional crystal walls of this world to be so solid!"
The Demon Prince Fabu Ti stared at the crystal barrier in front of him, a frustrated expression on his face.
Although he had already started corroding the crystal wall using his Abyssal Authority, the wall still appeared unyielding, leaving him anxious.
After all, Chu Hao, as the master of the Abyss, had not only ordered them to invade but also imposed a terrifying limitation: the worst-performing Demon Princes would be replaced.
And Fabu Ti didn't even need to imagine the method of replacement.
If he were replaced, it would mean being devoured by other demons, losing everything—his bloodline, status, and even the Abyssal Authority he had fought so hard to obtain.
"No! Everything is mine! I've earned it! I cannot let these other fools take it away!"
Fabu Ti's eyes turned red with rage.
He spun around, grabbed a native demon, tore it apart, gnawed on its bones, and stared intently at the crystal wall.
"There must be a way… a way to reach this damned world faster than the other Demon Princes!"
"Our powers are roughly equal…"
Holding a rib bone, he scraped it clean with his filthy teeth, his mind racing with malevolent thoughts.
"No Demon Prince is significantly stronger than the others!
No matter their territories, troops, or authority!
If I can reach this world first, I gain the advantage… but how can I accelerate the Abyss' corrosion of the crystal wall?"
The more Fabu Ti thought, the more agitated he became, taking out his anger on his weaker subordinate demons.
In his corrupted mind, tormenting others was the only way to spark inspiration.
After a gruesome, bloody frenzy, Fabu Ti sat atop a mountain of corpses, breathing heavily.
The stench of blood and bones calmed him slightly, and though the torment hadn't provided any new insight, a tiny spark of thought emerged in his chaotic mind.
"Wait…"
He shifted his attention to the other Demon Princes also corroding the crystal wall.
Each demon was certainly observing their peers' progress.
Among demons, absolute competition exists—though cooperation is rare, attention to rivals is inevitable.
"These guys are all thinking the same as I am—breaking through the crystal wall, using the Abyss' corrosive power to carve a path for their armies."
Even just placing a fragment of their essence or Abyssal aura on the crystal wall could carve out a terrifying void.
"But this speed won't create a decisive change…"
A cunning look appeared in Fabu Ti's eyes.
"What if I think differently? What if I send part of myself into this world first?"
"For example, like corrupting that Hayes researcher, I can secretly weaken some of this world's creatures in advance to prepare for my arrival!"
Acting immediately, Fabu Ti altered the Abyss' aura corrosion method, concentrating his authority to carve a tiny hole in the crystal wall.
Through that minuscule gap, he pushed a wisp of black mist into the unknown world.
---
"Clan Chief… I… I caught a Snowrock Rabbit this time!"
In a remote corner of this secret world, a frail, ragged tribal boy struggled to carry a rabbit nearly the size of his leg to the clan chief's house.
One of his arms was badly injured, hanging uselessly at his side, and his face was streaked with dozens of cuts from the rabbits, still bleeding.
"Mu Feng, why is it always Snowrock Rabbits?"
"Hahaha, useless!"
"Just one rabbit, and you get hurt! You and your sister are a pair of worthless trash!"
The boy's peers mocked him, each carrying their own prey—deadly creatures from the forest known for their nutritious meat.
Only his sister, empty-handed, stood silently by Mu Feng's side, tears slipping down her cheeks.
Mu Feng lowered his head, a flash of anger and unwillingness in his eyes.
But he remained calm; he knew if he argued back, these stronger boys would not show mercy.
At that moment, a strong, elderly clan chief with white hair and a graying beard emerged, glaring fiercely to silence the laughter.
"Mu Feng…"
The aged chief sighed at the sight of the siblings.
In this primitive village, orphans—especially weak ones—always suffered the most.
"I'll help you perform the sacrificial ritual shortly. May the Mother of the World bless you."
In this world, anyone could offer part of their hunted prey in sacrifice to gain the favor and blessings of the Mother of the World. The stronger the prey, the greater the boon.
From strength to life to abilities and skills, nothing was beyond the reach of sacrifice.
Although there was no upper limit to such offerings, continuously sacrificing weak creatures yielded diminishing returns.
Hence, the strong would hunt stronger creatures and enemies to grow ever stronger.
The weak, however, as seen in the ridicule of Mu Feng and his sister, held no status.
"Mu Feng, we'll start now. I will help you communicate with the Mother of the World's will…"
The chief gently stood beside Mu Feng, drawing a circular sacrificial array under his prey.
Mu Feng entered a meditative state, reaching into the Mother of the World's embrace to receive her blessing.
But…
"Why is it black?"
Mu Feng felt confused. This sacrifice seemed different from the ones before.