Demon Evolution System

Chapter 5

Miles' hands shook as he lifted the glowing rune from the shattered altar, the pulse of energy humming against his palms. The outlands had always been unforgiving, a place where demonic energy warped reality and monsters prowled without mercy. But this… this felt different. The rune’s light pulsed violently, as if alive, and Miles could feel its power crawling beneath his skin.

Ryan and the rest of the team pressed closer, their eyes glinting with greed.

He barely had a moment to react before the earth beneath them shuddered violently. Another crack appeared, followed by a low, guttural roar reverberated from the fissure in the ground.

Miles’ heart raced, and the hair on his neck bristled.

“What the hell—!” someone shouted.

The crack widened.

Three massive heads emerged first.

Each is larger than a horse’s torso. Black fur matted with demonic ichor. Eyes like molten coals burning with rage. Its Fanged jaws opened in unison.

The roar that followed shattered stones and boulders inside the cave.

A three-headed dire wolf dragged itself into the cavern, with its claws gouging trenches into solid rock as its colossal body followed.

One head sniffed the air.

The second locked onto the rune in Miles’ trembling hand.

The third growled in fury.

Ryan shouted orders, trying to mask his unease. “Attack it! Kill it! Now!”

Following Ryan's orders, Jax immediately shot three arrows at the beast simultaneously but his attack did not have any effect on the beast.

Provoked, the wolf swung its large paw at Jax who reacted too late and was instantly slashed in pieces.

“Brother…..” Jace screamed as he witnessed the cruel demise of his twin brother. “You damn dog! I'm going to fucking burn you” he yelled, casting a huge fire ball and lunged it a the wolf. The attack was a successful hit and the effect shook the entire cave.

For a brief moment, there was silence and the debris and dust covered everywhere blocking everyone's sight.

“Did we get it?” Lena asked in confusion.

“I think it's dead. Jace’ s fireball just now was too powerful for a beast in a low rank demonic nest to survive.” Ryan commented, his gaze locked on Jace who was a bit exhausted as he had used up too much mana to cast that fireball. “ Good job, Jace. Im sore-”

Before Ryan could complete his sentence one of the wolf heads suddenly appeared from the fog. It opened its jaw and a grab and grabbed Jace behind, dipping its sharp fangs into his torso. Jace didn't even get the chance to cry out of pain before another wolf head appeared and tore him apart from the mouth of the first head.

Blood splattered against the wall and floor.

Miles gulped in fear as this was the most horrifying scene he had witnessed.

They all stood before the towering beast, stunned by its immense bloodlust. Four more beasts came out of the rift that the three headed wolf walked out from.

“Hell hounds.”. Ryan whispered as he was completely speechless and soon realized that the three headed wolf was beyond the level they could handle. Hellhounds were more ferocious compared to normal dire wolves “Run! We have to run” he shouted and made his way out of the cave.

Miles barely had time to react, shoving the heavy bag of supplies over his shoulder as the rest of the team scrambled to escape. His heart hammered in his chest.

The wolves’ snarls were deafening, each step of their massive paws shaking the ground.

Climbing up the downward slope of the cave, miles were being dragged by the weight of the bags he carried. Halfway to the entrance, Ryan suddenly lunged at Miles. “Here, I’ll help with that bag,” he said, his voice deceptively calm.

Miles’ eyes widened as Ryan yanked the heavy bag from his shoulder. In the same motion, Ryan plunged a dagger deep into Miles’ side. Pain erupted, sharp and fiery, stealing his breath. Miles gasped, staggering under the force of the betrayal.

“What… why…?” Miles choked, clutching his wound as he stumbled to the ground.

Cole bent right next to him and took the bag that contained the beast cores but Miles struggled to hold onto it.

Ryan scowled and twisted the blade that was buried deep in Miles' gut. “ I'm sorry but you are going to stay behind to serve as bait for our escape. Consider this your last duty, Porter. My life still serves a more important purpose for mankind compared to yours. You should feel honored that I'm giving you a hero's death.”

Miles groaned not from the pain of the stab wound but from the ache of betrayal he felt. “You can't do this to me. I can't die like this.”

“Tch… trash like you complaining till the very end.” Ryan scoffed in irritation. The sound of the growling beast which seemed to be getting closer caught his attention.

“Let's go Ryan!” Lena yelled.

“ I can't stay and chat so this is goodbye, kid.” Ryan said in a non apologetic tone and kicked Miles' chest before he hurried off.