Demon Evolution System

Chapter 19

Ryan lay twisted on the floor, his body no longer obeying him.

Both legs bent at impossible angles. One arm dangled uselessly, shattered beyond repair, while the other trembled weakly as he dragged himself backward inch by inch, leaving a smear of blood across the cracked tiles.

His sword—his pride—lay broken beside him.

Miles stood over him, silently watching him.

Ryan’s chest heaved violently. Every breath scraped his lungs raw, panic clawing its way up his throat as his eyes locked onto Miles’ expressionless face.

“W-Wait…” Ryan croaked.

Miles tilted his head slightly, as if considering whether Ryan’s words were worth hearing.

“I—I surrender,” Ryan stammered, saliva and blood spilling from his lips. “Miles… please. Don’t do this.” His voice cracked.

“I was wrong. I admit it. I shouldn’t have abandoned you. I panicked. That’s all it was—panic.” Ryan laughed weakly, desperately. “You survived, right? So… no harm done.”

Miles crouched in front of him.

Ryan flinched, overwhelmed with fear..

Up close, Miles’ presence felt different now. Oppressive. Heavy. Like standing too close to a monster wearing human skin.

“You left me to die,” Miles said quietly.

Ryan shook his head frantically. “No—no, I swear! The wolves—those things were everywhere! We had no choice!”

Miles’ eyes didn’t waver.

“I begged,” he said. “You didn’t even look back.”

Ryan swallowed hard, his breathing turned ragged. “Please… I’ll do anything.”

Miles rose to his feet.

Ryan’s heart sank.

“I want the money,” Miles said flatly.

Ryan blinked. “W-What?”

“All of it,” Miles continued. “You must have sold the beast cores and parts. Ill take every credit you’ve hoarded.”

Ryan nodded rapidly. “Y-Yes! Yes! Of course!”

Hope surged through him like a drug.

“I’ll give it all to you! Everything! I swear! Just—just don’t kill me!”

Miles extended his hand.

Ryan fumbled with trembling fingers, activating his wrist terminal. His hands shook so badly he mistyped the code twice, panic making it hard to breathe.

“T-Transfer code…” Ryan whispered. “It’s—It’s RX-7719—”

Miles waited.

Ryan forced himself to focus, teeth chattering as he finalized the transfer. A sharp chime echoed in the room as Miles’ terminal confirmed the transaction.

TRANSFER COMPLETE.

Ryan collapsed back onto the floor, sobbing with relief.

“There,” he gasped. “It’s yours. Everything. You don’t have to worry anymore. I won’t say a word. I swear it. I’ll disappear. You’ll never see me again.”

Miles looked down at him. “I believe you,” he said with a dark expression

Ryan laughed weakly through tears. “Y-You do?”

“Yes,” Miles replied. “You’ll do whatever it takes to survive.”

Ryan nodded desperately. “Exactly! I won’t expose you. I won’t tell the Association. I won’t tell anyone. You have my word!”

Miles turned away.

Ryan’s chest loosened as relief flooded him so hard that it caused his vision to blur. He thought it was finally over and he would get to see another day but then Miles stopped in his tracks.

“But that’s the problem,” Miles said calmly,

Ryan frowned. “W-What…?”

Miles glanced back over his shoulder, turning around again to look at Ryan with a wicked smirk on his face.

“The only way to be sure,” he continued, “......is if you can’t speak at all. After all, you said the same thing to me just minutes ago.”

Ryan’s blood ran cold. He clearly understood what Miles was insinuating. Earlier, he had made his intention to kill Miles to silence him forever about the crimes he committed in the outland even though Miles had declared he had no intention of making a report. Now that the tables had turned and the role was reversed, Miles was planning to kill him to silence him forever as well.

“No—wait—MILES!”

Ryan tried to crawl backward, dragging his useless legs, nails scraping desperately against the floor.

“I’ll disappear! I swear it! I’ll leave the city—no, the country! I’ll never come back!”

Miles scoffed. “Tell me, would you have listened if I begged you like this…..if I was still the same weak old Miles would you have spared my life? “

Demonic energy began to coil around his hand. It wrapped around his fingers like living smoke, condensing, sharpening—forming a claw of pure, malevolent force. The air warped around it, vibrating with a low, predatory hum.

Ryan’s eyes widened in terror.

“N-No… please…I will change. I will really stop bothering you or anyone else. Ill give up being a hunter if thats what you want ”

Miles stepped closer.

“I kept my promise,” Miles said. “I came for my payment.”

Ryan sobbed openly now. “I … please… I’ll do anything…”

Miles stopped in front of him.

“You already did,” he said. “This is karma. You should have made a wiser judgment when I gave you guys a second chance so you only have yourself to blame.

He grabbed Ryan by the throat.

Ryan’s hands clawed weakly at Miles’ arm as he was lifted off the ground, feet dangling uselessly, eyes bulging in pure panic.

“Miles—please—!”

The demonic claw tightened.

Then—

Miles ripped.

A wet, horrifying sound tore through the room.

Ryan’s pleas were cut off mid-syllable as his throat was shredded open, blood spraying across the floor and walls. His body convulsed once… twice…

Then went limp.

Miles released him and Ryan’s corpse collapsed to the ground, lifeless eyes staring at nothing.

[Ding]

[ 1 enemy has been Killed ]

[Mission Progress: (3/3) enemies killed]

[Ding: Emergency Mission Completed]

[6 Stats points received.]

Silence reclaimed the room.

The demonic energy around Miles’ hand slowly dissipated, fading back into his skin as if it had never been there.

Miles stood still for a long moment, staring at Ryan, Cole and Lena’s corpse without any hint of regret.

Only resolve.

He turned and walked away, leaving behind the bodies, the blood, and the last remnants of the weak boy he used to be.

Miles Reed was done surviving.

Now—

He would rise.

a distant wail cut through the night—a sharp, rising keening that clawed at his ears.

Sirens.

Miles’ spine stiffened, his senses snapping outward like a taut wire. The sound wasn’t close, but it was coming fast. He figured that the nearby residents must have made a report as the loud sounds from the crashes and unnatural shockwaves during the fight must have drawn a lot of attention.

It was clearly obvious that it was a fight between awakeners. If the police were headed this way then there was no doubt that agents of the Awakener Association would inevitably follow as they were the legal authority in charge of dealing with the crimes committed by awakeners.

Looking at the three dead bodies, Miles knew that there was no way he wouldn't be branded a criminal who just murdered three people. That was not the kind of heat that he was willing to deal with at this time.

Not tonight. Not like this.

As a result, Miles decided to leave but before doing so he needed to clear out any evidence that might be traced back to him.

[Ding]

[The skill Hellflame has been activated]

Miles raised his hand.

A faint heat gathered in his palm. At first, it was nothing more than a flicker—like a dying ember breathing back to life. Then it grew, fed by his will, by the demonic energy within him. Dark crimson flames bloomed, writhing like living creatures, their heat sharp and oppressive. Unlike ordinary fire, these flames didn’t crackle cheerfully.

The fire spilled outward, crawling along the floor, climbing the walls, devouring curtains, furniture, and blood alike. The flames burned unnaturally fast, reducing wood, cloth, and flesh into blackened ash within seconds. Smoke poured upward, thick and choking, carrying the stench of scorched metal and charred remains.

Miles lingered for only a heartbeat, watching the evidence of the night melt away into ash and smoke. Then he turned, slipping through the back exit, vanishing into the night just as the sirens began to swell.

By the time they arrived, there would be nothing left—only fire, ruin, and unanswered questions.