Demon Evolution System

Chapter 3

The entire group was shocked by this occurrence as it was rare for cracks to occur in the wasteland. Suddenly , Ryan burst into an excited laughter. “Isnt this great?” he remarked and looked at the rest of the group members. “ What are you waiting for boys? Let's get a move on and clear that gate.”

“You aren't actually serious about that,right.” Miles remarked as he was genuinely stunned by Ryan's suggestion.

Ryan turned to look at Miles with a disdainful glare . “ Do you have a problem with that pipsqueak? “

“We shouldn’t,” Miles said before he could stop himself.

Ryan’s eyebrows arched upward.

“This isn’t right.” Miles pressed on, pulse rising. “ The hunter code states that gates should not be explored by hunters without the authorization of the hunter association.”

The protocol was clear. Any unregistered Crack had to be reported immediately. Specialized teams handled breaches, assessed risk, deployed containment if necessary. Independent raids weren’t just illegal—they were suicidal.

“Shut your mouth, Miles. I know the protocols so don't try to educate me..”

The words cracked like a whip.

He jabbed a finger into Miles’ chest, right over the lingering bruise. “You carry. You obey. Or I’ll make sure the ground swallows you before the demons do.”

“The kid does have a point. We should just head back and inform the association about this crack. There is still going to be a reward for doing that.” one member of the group stated.

“See that?” Ryan pointed at the crack. “That’s our ticket, it is a Low-grade portal and we are the ones who found it. Think of the treasure we can find if we clear that gate but once we report it the loot belongs to the association.” He said, his eyes consumed by greed as he coerced his team mate to join him.

Ryan didn’t take his eyes off the Crack. “Do you know how rare it is for a gate to manifest this clean in the Outlands?”

“That doesn’t matter,” Miles said. “Low-grade doesn’t mean safe. We don’t know what’s—”

Ryan turned on him.

The air around the leader shifted, pressure slamming into Miles like a physical blow. It wasn’t killing intent—not quite—but it was enough to remind him of the gap between them.

“You’re scared,” Ryan said flatly. “That’s fine. That’s expected. But don’t confuse your fear with judgment.”

“This isn’t fear,” Miles said. His jaw tightened. “It’s math. Risk versus reward. We report it, we get a finder’s bonus and walk away alive.”

“And watch some corporate clean-up crew strip it bare?” Ryan scoffed. “No.”

Miles’ stomach tightened. It was true hunters who cleared demon gate often found treasure after a successful raid and that was why Ryan was so eager to raid it. It was an opportunity that posed great danger because no one knew what demonic beasts were lurking inside the crack and Ryan was willing to ignore the danger signs because of his greed,

Lena tilted her head, eyes gleaming. “If it’s low-grade, the first clear gets everything.”

The twins exchanged a glance. Greed flickered there too.

Cole hesitated. “Ryan… regulations—”

“Are suggestions,” Ryan cut in. “We’re strong enough. In and out. Easy money.”

Miles felt the trap closing.

“I’m not going in,” he said.

The words landed like a challenge.

Ryan stepped closer until they were almost chest to chest. “You don’t get a vote.”

“I won’t survive it,” Miles said quietly.

Ryan smiled thinly. “You’ll survive if we say you survive.”

His voice dropped. “Or you can stay out here alone. With whatever crawls out next.”

Miles looked past him, at the Crack. At the way the red light pulsed, almost… expectant.

Ryan stepped in close, voice low and dangerous. “You think you have a choice?”

“This is crazy. It's not right for us to go in there.”

“But inside?” Ryan continued, grin spreading. “Inside is free profit.”

Miles clenched his fists. At this point he was at a crossroad.

Defiance meant death.

Compliance meant risk.

But the risk was familiar. A sensation he had gambled with every time he stepped into the outlands. His hands clenched at his sides.

“…Understood,” he said.

Ryan smiled. “Good boy.”

They approached the Crack.

The air warped as they drew closer, reality thinning like stretched glass. Red light licked the jagged edges of the corrupted earth.

Ryan stepped through first without hesitation, his blade already in hand.

“Follow up! Tight formation!” he called.

His eyes flicked to Miles. “And you—keep those bags close or I’ll consider you dead weight.”

Crossing the crack felt like plunging into boiling water.

The world inverted, pressure crushing in from all sides before snapping into place. The Demon Realm bled into reality—jagged stone corridors veined with glowing crimson lines, the air thick with heat and distant howls.

Miles staggered, catching himself against the cavern wall. His vision swam.

“Pathetic,” Lena muttered as she passed him.

He adjusted his balance, steps measured. He moved like a shadow behind hunters, careful not to interfere, careful not to fall behind.

The first wave came fast.

Corrupted wolves burst from the darkness, bodies twisted and elongated, eyes glowing with feral red light. Their howls echoed unnaturally, bouncing off cavern walls that shouldn’t have been there.

“Engage!” Ryan shouted.

Steel flashed.

Mana flared.

The team moved with practiced synergy—two blades high, one low, a spear thrusting through gaps with lethal precision. Wolves fell in snarling heaps, ichor splattering across stone.

Inside, the gate stretched into branching tunnels. Low-grade, but expansive. Demonic residue coated the floor, sticky underfoot. The team advanced cautiously at first, but confidence returned quickly as the first wave of lesser beasts fell. Miles stayed back, heart pounding as he dragged bodies aside, harvested crystals, packed them away.

He darted in after each kill, hands fast as he extracted mana crystals embedded in corrupted flesh, slicing free hardened cores with a practiced twist. He stowed them carefully, movements economical despite the growing weight.

Ryan was laughing now.

“See?” he said, wiping his blade. “Easy.”

The deeper they went, the heavier the air became. Miles’ skin prickled constantly, a sensation like being watched.

They reached a cavern mouth larger than the others, the floor sloping downward into darkness. The mana density here was oppressive, pressing against Miles’ lungs.

It was clear that they had reached the Boss territory.