Judging from the clothing and weapons used by Moku and the other green creatures, it can be inferred that they are still living as nomads. They rely on hunting and gathering for resources and have yet to discover agriculture.
Therefore, it is logical for Moku and the other green creatures to seek food outside the Bog Forest for survival. They may also be unaware of the concept of mana species and the fact that they are not the only ones living in this world.
They are simply wild and uneducated beings. Their purpose in attacking elven villages is to survive, perhaps assuming that the elf species they encountered were similar to the wild beasts in the Bog Forest. This mindset is similar to when humans first encountered the elven species.
"Moku The Ku, I understand that you only seek to survive. However, you must realize that mana species like you and your people are not the only ones here. The villages you attacked are under our protection, and what you have done is tantamount to declaring war against us," Raiden patiently explained.
"..."
Moku did not respond, but inside, he was laughing uproariously. Raiden assumed that he and the other monsters were the same mana species as them. The idea that they were just evolved monsters never crossed Raiden's mind.
The arrogance of these mana species made Moku and the other monsters shake their heads. They were not even aware that they were being deceived, despite the truth being right in front of them.
Seeing Moku remain silent as if acknowledging his mistake, Raiden's heart blossomed. It seemed that he had just encountered a mana species that still possessed logical thinking, unlike the demon species. This meant that there was still a wide opportunity for negotiation.
"Moku The Ku, as the commander of the elite forces of the Water Elf Kingdom, I offer you and your people a chance to negotiate with the elven alliance. You have destroyed some of our villages, but all can be forgiven with some compensation. We also hope to establish trade relations with you. We have an abundant food supply that is more than enough to meet the needs of your people." Raiden's mind raced, quickly devising an enticing offer for the rural folks in front of him.
Raiden was certain that their agricultural technology must be far behind that of the elven species. By engaging in trade with these rural beings, the elf species could gain tremendous benefits by merely sharing their outdated farming techniques.
There was something Raiden desperately wanted from the green creatures before him: knowledge of their peculiar powers. Raiden couldn't even sense the use of mana when these green creatures struck with such force, causing fiery explosions. He was also baffled by how they coated their bodies with invisible protection, rendering mage spells ineffective against them.
Moreover, Raiden couldn't forget the woman he fought in the village of Rizan. The way she utilized mana was vastly different from any mages he had encountered. She seemed to enslave mana as if it were her servant, while other mages appeared enslaved by mana.
If the elven alliance could acquire this mana manipulation technology, not only would they be able to easily repel the demon species, but they might also become the most powerful mana species in the world. The thought of his name being etched in history as the hero with the greatest contribution to the rise of the elven species made Raiden drool with anticipation.
However, what happened next shattered Raiden's heart. Moku, who had been silently listening all this time, finally spoke up.
"I can compensate for your losses, as it is our fault as well. But you must also pay for what you have done to us!"
"What do you mean?" Raiden sensed that something was amiss.
"You have wounded my wife to the brink of death! She is the Holy Queen of my people! Injuring her is like spitting on our god, and it is a grave violation! There will be no friendly relations between our species until you pay for this incident!"
"Pay? What do you want?"
"I want your heads—yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, yours!" Moku pointed at each elf in front of him with a sinister grin on his face.
Raiden and the other elves were stunned; they never expected the rural beings before them to audaciously demand their heads.
"Moku The Ku, what do you mean by this? It was your people who were at fault for attacking our villages! I was merely protecting my people, and I had no idea that the woman I wounded was your wife! Demanding our heads as retribution is excessive!" Raiden continued to negotiate.
"Excessive? My forces only killed the elves living in the villages; they were mere commoners. Does your species equate the value of a Holy Queen to that of commoners?" This time, Moku's sarcasm was clearly evident in his words.
Raiden and the other elves were speechless. Of course, the value of a Holy Queen could never be equated to that of commoners, no matter how many there were.
The term "Holy Queen" used in the elven species not only describes a queen who is the wife of a king but also someone who plays the most significant role in religious ceremonies to worship their respective gods.
Selling off a Holy Queen just to save a few commoners was unthinkable for them. However, when it came to paying with their lives, they naturally objected. Who would be willing to die just to compensate for the wounds inflicted on the Holy Queen of these rural people?
"It seems you are reluctant. Therefore, I can't do anything about it either. You still have to pay with your heads for injuring our Holy Queen. Whether you surrender willingly or we take them by force!"
As soon as Moku said that, he raised his hand high and clenched it.
[Dream Realm: Pandava]!
Suddenly, the world became dark without any light. Time seemed to stand still, and the sun vanished. All the mages suddenly lost their ability to sense mana.
However, before any of them could react, the monsters launched their attack. Millions of blue bullets shot from their hands, raining down on the twenty mages.
In a fraction of a second, before any casualties occurred, Raiden used every last bit of mana within his body.
[Domain: Grave of Suffering]!
Instantly, a grayish-dark aura emanated from Raiden's body, pushing darkness and the silence of time around him. The world transformed into a realm filled with hidden graves concealed within the shadows.
These graves were made of ancient and weathered black stone. Their surfaces were covered in scratches and mystical symbols depicting suffering and anguish. The sound of cold, silent winds echoed around the graves, creating an eerie and captivating atmosphere.
Inside the grave, there were statues that appeared like hovering spirits, their faces filled with suffering. They formed a circle around the center of the grave, creating a mysterious and eerie atmosphere. A strong dark aura emanated from each statue, reflecting the power of this Domain Mantra.
Surrounding the grave, there were withered and lifeless plants. The soil around it was dry and barren, reflecting the negative energy and suffering contained within this mantra. Dim and gloomy light filled the surrounding area, creating a dramatic lighting effect and intensifying the sense of darkness and dread.
This was the first time Moku had witnessed the Domain of a Level 5 Constellation Mage. Though he didn't enter it, he could sense that all the laws of the world were directed towards its user.
The Brajamusti Bullets flew rapidly, colliding with the imposing tall statues. Although the Brajamusti Bullets were supposed to penetrate the hard stone, this Mantra couldn't pierce through the statues within Raiden's Domain.
The other elf mages felt relieved. They then glared at Moku and the other monsters with anger. Raiden, too, realized that if he hadn't acted swiftly, there would have been casualties on his side.
He never expected that Moku and the other monsters would attack immediately without any prior warning. Their uncivilized behavior revealed their rural habits.
"Moku! Is this how you negotiate? You use your Domain without hesitation! Do you really want to wage war with the elven alliance?" Raiden shouted, no longer using Moku's honorific name.
"It's you who can't fulfill our demands! If you were in my position, would you remain silent when facing someone who nearly killed your spouse? If you want to establish a good relationship with us, it would be better for you to relinquish your Domain and offer your neck for me to cut!" Moku replied with a grin on his face.
"YOU!!!" Raiden grew even angrier.
He felt foolish for attempting to negotiate with these rural people. He was confident that he was stronger than Moku and his troops and could defeat the forces in front of him. Besides, if he were cornered, he could retreat and seek help from the elven alliance.
To obtain the secret of using the spells of these green creatures, he could seize it after eliminating or enslaving them all. In this world, power ruled, and negotiation was for the weak.
"Oh? You're showing your true face. That's good, then. I also want to try something."
Moku said, tightly gripping the Orb Intent in front of him.
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