Demon Evolution System

Chapter 27

Standing in front of the lich in rigid, unyielding armor wasA skeletal knight.

It was tall—far taller than any human—its body encased in thick, overlapping plates of blackened armor. The skull-shaped helm bore no expression, yet crimson light burned fiercely within its hollow eye sockets. Dark mist seeped continuously from the joints of its armor, pooling around its feet like crawling smoke.

The massive broadsword it held rested loosely at its side.

As if blocking Boros’ full-powered charge had required no effort at all.

Kira’s fingers trembled around her staff. Her voice came out in a fragile whisper.

“W-What… what is that thing?”

Hale’s face had drained of color.

His throat tightened before he answered.

“A Death Knight.”

The words dropped like a death sentence.

The pressure in the hallway intensified, pressing down on their chests, making it harder to breathe.

Hale swallowed and continued, his voice low but firm, as though forcing himself to remain composed.

“Elite undead warriors. B-rank monsters. They retain combat skill, intelligence, and absolute loyalty.”

His eyes shifted—slowly—to the floating skeleton behind the knight.

“And there is one thing you must never forget about Death Knights.”

The air grew colder.

“They serve only one master…..”

Realization struck the group all at once.

Kael’s grip on his sword tightened.

Dren felt a chill crawl up his spine.

Kira’s breath hitched.

Hale finished quietly, “That means… That monster is a Lich”

The floating skeleton finally moved.

Its head tilted slightly, bones creaking faintly as if the sound itself were amplified in the silence. The silver lining along its robe pulsed softly, and a voice emerged—dry, layered, echoing unnaturally from every direction at once.

“So… you are not all idiots.”

The voice slithered through the air, cold and contemptuous.Its hollow gaze swept the group, landing on Hale. “At least one among you recognizes what stands before him. But recognition will not save you.”

“You may address me properly,” the skeleton continued calmly. “I am a lich.”

The word carried weight.

Ancient. Absolute. Final.

“The master of this domain.”

A suffocating aura rolled outward from its form, like a tide of death, causing the torchlight along the walls to flicker violently. “You trespassed,” the lich said, its tone sharpening. “ I have been waiting for you insects to arrive for a while so I can unleash my wrath and give you a befitting punishment. You slaughtered my servants. My summons.”

The Lich voice dipped, filled with restrained fury. As it referred to the trolls, the golems and skeletons warriors that the group had killed.

The temperature in the room dropped sharply.

“I knew you were coming,” it continued. “And this is where your foolish journey ends.”

Boros clenched his teeth. Fear tried to claw its way up his spine—but his pride refused to let it show.

He stepped forward, axe resting on his shoulder, forcing a scoff. “You undead freaks sure like to talk.”

He jabbed the blade toward the lich. “If you’re angry about losing your summons, maybe you should’ve picked stronger ones.”

Kael spun toward him, panic breaking through his composure. “Boros—shut up!”

But Boros didn’t even glance at him.

“There’s only one knight guarding you,” Boros continued loudly, gesturing at the armored skeleton. “We’ve killed worse. Look at us—we outnumber you.”

Boros’ chest puffed up in defiance, masking the tremor he felt in his hands. “This lich? Nonsense. You lost your pawns—trolls, golems, skeletons. You’re the one who should fear us.”

The lich stared at him.

For a long moment, it said nothing.

Then— It laughed.

A hollow, echoing sound that scraped against the nerves like bones grinding together.

“Foolish human.”

The shadows along the hallway walls twisted violently.

The ground beneath them trembled violently. Stone dust fell from the ceiling.

WHOOSH—!

Dark portals ripped open one after another, tearing through space like wounds.

One.

Two.

Five.

Ten.

Twenty.

Skeletal figures emerged in perfect formation. A wall of Death Knights, each clad in black armor, each radiating lethal intent. Their weapons gleamed with a faint crimson hue, their boots striking the ground in perfect, synchronized rhythm—a marching heartbeat of death.

Each wore the same black armor.

Each radiated the same oppressive aura.

Twenty Death Knights.

The sound of their armored boots striking the stone floor echoed in unison—slow, deliberate, merciless. It was a funeral march.

The hallway vibrated with the synchronized steps of twenty B-rank monsters, each capable of crushing a seasoned hunter. Every footfall was a countdown to pain, blood, and death.

Kira’s hands shook violently around her staff. “H-Hale… what do we do?”

Hale’s mind raced, assessing the battlefield. His eyes flicked from Boros, who had lost some of his bravado, to the rest of the team, their faces pale but determined. Even he felt the weight of the lich’s presence, the scale of what they were facing.

Death knights were B-rank monsters that were difficult for hunters on higher level to kill because of their intelligence. Now there were. Twenty of them paired off against rookies.

Boros’ breath caught in his throat.

The confidence drained from his face.

His heart hammered violently as his instincts screamed danger louder than ever before. The pressure was unbearable—like standing beneath a collapsing mountain.

Without realizing it—

He stepped back.

Fear flickered in his eyes.

His chest heaved. The confidence he had worn like armor cracked, a fissure of fear showing in his eyes. He had thought this fight simple, a duel against an overhyped skeleton and its single guard. Now, twenty deathless warriors radiating lethal precision advanced toward him.

The lich’s laughter deepened, satisfied.

“Now,” it asked softly, “who is outnumbered?”

The lich floated higher, silver-lined robe rippling as if stirred by invisible winds. Its gaze swept over them like a predator examining prey. Its voice cut through the heavy tension, cold and merciless.

“When you fall,” it continued, voice dripping with cruelty, “your bodies will rise again.”

“You will serve me.”

“For eternity.”

Kira trembled, clutching her staff as dread seeped into her bones.

Dren’s hands shook despite his efforts to steady them.

Kael swallowed hard, sweat trickling down his temple.

The Death Knights raised their weapons in perfect synchronization.

At the lich’s silent command—

They began to advance.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Each footfall echoed like a countdown to death.

Miles’ eyes darkened.

His demonic senses screamed a single warning—

This was no longer a test.

This was annihilation.

And the nightmare had only begun.