The Red Glutton Worm was a monster whose meat was highly sought after by a certain species of animals—the very animals Armin needed to hunt.
Crimson Tusk Boars.
These creatures were far larger than the boars of the human world, their hulking forms traveling in herds of thousands, stampeding across the dunes with unstoppable force. Their deep, guttural bellows echoed across the desert like the drums of an ancient war, sending tremors through the earth. Their thick hides, as tough as steel, bore scars from countless battles, and their jagged tusks gleamed under the merciless sun. Even their footfalls were like hammer blows against the land, turning the once-still desert into a churning sea of dust.
Armin sat atop a sun-scorched hill, the coarse grains of sand slipping between his fingers as he surveyed the endless expanse of dunes stretching to the horizon. The sky above burned with an oppressive heat, the air thick with the scent of dry earth and distant blood. The twin cubs, a white tiger and a black wolf, lay curled up beside him, their tiny chests rising and falling with each breath. Their fur, though still ragged from past wounds, gleamed softly in the golden light, stark contrasts against the harsh, unforgiving terrain.
He exhaled slowly, shielding his eyes from the sun. "This should be the place they'll go t—"
A sudden tremor rippled through the land, causing loose pebbles to vibrate against the sandstone. Then another. Then another. Each impact sent a shockwave through the ground, a rolling, rhythmic force of destruction.
Far in the distance, the desert shifted. A great storm of dust and sand billowed into the sky, dark and ominous. Beneath it, a tide of crimson and black surged forward—a monstrous stampede of beasts, their thundering hooves carving deep scars into the dunes. The sound alone was deafening, a chorus of battle cries and rage-filled grunts that sent shivers up Armin's spine.
"There they are."
His grip on his sword tightened. If he was caught in their path, he would be trampled before he could even scream. He had no choice but to be patient, to wait for the right moment. He couldn't afford to challenge the strongest boars leading the charge—he was far too weak for that. His best chance lay with the frail, aging stragglers who lagged at the rear of the stampede. The problem was, the number of old boars had dwindled in recent times. Many of the herds had begun leaving the weakest behind, abandoning them to die in the wastelands.
As the stampede thundered past, he whispered a silent prayer that at least one old boar would be among them. The dunes trembled violently, sand spraying into the air as the monsters surged past. Armin's muscles burned as he remained crouched, his body pressed low against the scorching earth. The force of the herd alone sent waves of wind blasting into his face, stinging his skin like a thousand tiny needles.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the dust began to settle.
A single boar lagged behind the others, its movements sluggish, its body worn with age. It stumbled on the uneven terrain, its once-mighty legs trembling beneath the weight of its own bulk. Compared to the others, it was little more than skin and bone, its once-glorious tusks cracked and dulled by time. But even in its weakened state, it remained a force of nature, a beast of raw survival.
Armin exhaled slowly. This was his only chance.
He reached into his satchel and pulled out a chunk of Red Glutton Worm meat. The flesh, still oozing with pungent juices, glistened in the dying sunlight. He tossed it near the boar, careful to remain unseen.
The old beast paused, its massive nostrils flaring as it caught the scent. It let out a low, guttural grunt, curiosity flickering in its bloodshot eyes. Slowly, it took a tentative step forward. Then another. Then another.
Just as it lowered its head to feast, Armin struck.
With a burst of speed, he launched himself forward, sword gripped tight. The blade whistled through the air, aimed directly for the beast's exposed flank. But the boar, even in its weakened state, was not defenseless.
A roar of fury erupted from its throat, and with a sudden, desperate twist, it lashed out with its tusks.
Pain exploded across Armin's ribs as one jagged edge tore through his side, sending him tumbling backward. Blood seeped into his torn shirt, staining the fabric crimson. Gritting his teeth, he rolled to his feet just in time to dodge another wild swipe. The boar was enraged now, its dull eyes burning with primal fury. It charged, its bulk like a living battering ram.
Armin barely managed to dive out of the way as the beast barreled past him, sending sand and dust flying. He hit the ground hard, his vision momentarily blurring. The cubs yelped from their hiding place, but he had no time to reassure them.
The boar pivoted, its massive form surprisingly agile for its size. Armin forced himself to his feet, every muscle screaming in protest. He couldn't afford to let it regain control. Clenching his jaw, he sprinted toward it, dodging its tusks as it swung its head wildly.
Summoning what little strength he had left, Armin lunged beneath the beast's exposed belly and drove his sword upward with all his might.
The blade sank deep, piercing the soft flesh between its ribs.
A deafening screech tore through the air as the boar bucked wildly, its massive hooves kicking up storms of sand. Armin held on, his arms burning from the strain. He twisted the blade deeper, feeling the resistance give way as he struck something vital.
The boar let out one final, agonized groan before collapsing to the ground with a thunderous crash.
For a long moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, slowly, Armin exhaled.
His hands trembled as he pulled his sword free, blood dripping from the edge. He staggered back, barely able to stand. The cubs meowed and barked, their tiny voices breaking the stillness. Irina nudged at his leg, her blue eyes wide with concern, while Lupa whined softly, pressing her tiny body against his side.
Armin knelt beside the fallen beast, resting a hand on its coarse fur. "I know you can't forgive me for this... but thank you for living your life and giving me the chance to live another day. May you return to the cycle of reincarnation."
It wasn't exactly a prayer—he was a demon, after all. More of an apology. All beings eventually returned to the cycle, their memories wiped clean, reborn into a new life. That was the way of the world.
With a deep breath, Armin hoisted the carcass onto his back. He was weak compared to other demons, but he was still a demon.
Night fell over the endless dunes, the sky a sea of ink pierced by a thousand cold stars. The air was sharp and biting, but the small campfire he had built kept the chill at bay.
The boar's legs roasted over the flames, skewered on his cleaned sword. Nearby, the cubs gnawed on deboned ribs, their eyes gleaming with contentment.
Armin chuckled. "You two need names."
They both looked up, ears perked, as if understanding his words.
Gazing at the starlit sky, he finally made his decision.
"You will be Irina," he said, pointing to the white tiger cub. It meowed in appreciation, its wounds healing steadily.
"And you will be Lupa," he added, turning to the black wolf cub. It barked happily in response.
Armin smiled, the warmth of the fire reflecting in his eyes. Maybe, just maybe, he had found something worth protecting.
And for now, that was enough.
Meanwhile,
In a realm of space higher than all existence,HEAVEN-
A vast room filled with clouds was being supported by white marble columns outlined with gold.
Beside every column stood an astoundingly tall angle soldier with golden armour over their bodies made of solid light.
They wielded divine weapons.
And then there was the being they stood guard for.
In a colossal,ethereal throne stood figure drapped in shite robes.
Her face was almost glowing with beauty. Her hair shining like gold
Particles of light were hovering around her.
-THE GODDESS-
-HERINA-
-CREATOR OF IMPERIA-
-THE HOLY MOTHER-
In front of this ethereal being was a round ball of light, she watched closely with interest.
The ball of light reflected the image of Armin along with Irina and Lupa eating beside the campfire.
[It Is Almost Time....]
The Goddess,Herina as she was known, said to herself.
[For 15,000 Years I Have Watched My Children Fight And Kill Each Other. And I Was Unable To Do Anything
Because Of #*#&#*#]
She said as he words glitched. She sighed. It was annoying that she couldn't even curse #&#&#%# out.
She extened forth a glowing hand summoning mana to it.
[No Longer Shall That Happen]
[Arminius,I Shall Choose You As My Champion!]
End of Chapter-3