Demon Hierarchy (2)
"...What?"
"The demon... self-harmed..."
"What, what!? What the hell did you do!"
Hyunho shouted.
"I-I don't know!"
Seha shook his head, looking utterly wronged.
The upper demon had ripped its own head off. A summoned beast that had been standing perfectly fine just moments ago committing self-harm—could something like that even happen?
...No, it could. But it shouldn't.
Why? The command went through perfectly. The Domination Seed was normal too. So why self-harm? No, before that—why did the control break?
There were three summoned beasts left. They were the same.
Clack clack clack clack.
The sound of chattering teeth filled the training ground.
What the hell? What's wrong with these things!
Hyunho sent a recall command to the summoned beasts.
Come at me all at once.
No response.
Attack.
They trembled...
The demons turned their heads shakily, then—as if resolved—faced Hyunho.
"...? What?"
And then.
"Graaaah!!"
They charged at Hyunho all at once.
"These stupid..."
Hyunho grimaced.
Splat!
The demons exploded in unison. Blue, purple, and green blood sprayed everywhere.
Plop plop.
Hyunho shook the blood from his stained hand.
"How dare they..."
He swallowed his rage.
Seha just stared wide-eyed, clueless about what had happened. A summoned beast self-harming wasn't enough—they'd attacked their summoner? Demons killing their summoners after being called? Sure, that happened. But after the contract was complete... what the hell?
"Looks like something's off today."
Hyunho adjusted his tie as he said it, turning to leave.
"Sorry, but I think we'll have to call it here."
"Where do you think you're going."
Dahong's voice echoed across the training ground.
"There's still one demon left."
Seha blinked.
"...Huh?"
"..."
Hyunho slowly turned his head.
Dahong was staring right at him.
"...No idea what you're talking about."
Hyunho kept his smile plastered on.
"Gonna run?"
Hyunho's eye twitched.
"Can't do anything on your own? Even with all that power?"
"..."
Hyunho dropped the smile, staring at Dahong.
Seha fidgeted in the weird tension.
"...U-um, Dahong? What's going on?"
Dahong kept her eyes on Hyunho.
"Dumb Seha."
"Huh?"
"This ain't human. It's a demon."
"...?"
The training ground went dead silent.
Seha looked at Hyunho, utterly confused.
"...Pfft!"
Hyunho covered his mouth, chuckling.
The mood flipped in an instant. The kind smile twisted into something cruel. Wrinkles creased his forehead, hidden before by his neat hair.
"What... You knew from the start?"
"Senior Hyunho...?"
Seha stared in disbelief.
Hyunho loosened his tie and shrugged.
"Ah! Should've realized sooner you weren't some ordinary low-rank demon."
His tie hit the floor.
"Whatever. Doesn't matter. Just move the plan up a bit. No evidence left anyway—that lady investigator can't do shit."
"Senior Hyunho? What are you talking about?"
Hyunho glanced at Seha. No softness in his eyes now.
"Oh, right. I was your senior, huh?"
Sarcastic tone.
Color drained from Seha's face.
"Listen up, you dumb kid."
Thud.
His suit jacket dropped.
"Just like your summon says, I'm a demon."
Something black writhed inside his dress shirt.
"An upper one, at that."
"...Liar."
Seha stepped back.
"You're lying, right? Then the summoning advice, the library, all of it—"
"Wish it was all lies?"
Hyunho laughed cruelly.
"Summoning tips were real. Just a way to drop your guard."
"..."
Seha's head drooped. No sense of reality. He'd thought this was someone he could talk to, for the first time...
Dahong stepped in front of Seha.
"Step back."
"Dahong..."
"I said step back."
Dahong was firm. No coddling. Just her usual attitude. But that snapped Seha out of it.
"...Ugh."
Seha hugged Ruby and retreated to the edge of the training ground.
Dahong and Hyunho faced off.
"...Hoo."
Hyunho exhaled and dropped his smile.
"Don't know what you are, but..."
Crack.
His neck popped.
"I'll show you what happens when you underestimate a real upper demon."
Crunch. Crack. Snap.
Skin split, clothes tore. Something black swelled from inside. Bones lengthening. Muscles shifting.
Riiip!
Hyunho's face mashed together. Not an expression—literally, eyes spinning, nose and mouth writhing. His back burst like insect molting.
Thud.
What emerged: over 2 meters tall. Five eyeballs. Four horns. Arms dragging to the floor ending in hooked claws. Bones and muscles piercing leather-like skin.
An upper demon. Tatos's battle form.
Thoom.
Just existing made the air heavy. Seha's ears rang.
This... is an upper demon...!
Tatos exhaled, air shuddering.
Its five eyes darted, then locked on Dahong.
Dahong didn't even pull her hands from her pockets.
"Whoa."
Dahong smirked.
"Ugly as hell."
Calm tone.
"..."
Tatos's eyes twitched.
"I'll kill you."
Tatos's form blurred.
Boom!
Floor shattered. Hooked claws enclosed Dahong's head.
Splat!
Tatos's hand sheared off in a perfect cube and burst.
Crack!
Tatos swatted Dahong with its other arm. She flew far away.
Thud!
Dust billowed.
"I've devoured dozens of upper demons! Their power's all mine now! Underestimate a normal upper demon and you'll regret it!"
Tatos boasted.
No reply.
"Tch, overhyped it?"
Tatos muttered, disappointed.
Then.
"Hmm~."
A soft hum from behind.
"!?"
"Devoured multiple upper demons' powers, huh... Interesting."
Dahong stood behind Tatos, arms crossed, stroking her chin appraisingly.
Tatos whipped around, checking the wall where Dahong had flown. Not her—its own thick arm embedded there. Somehow, its left arm was gone.
"..."
Bubble bubble. Foam bubbled at the stump, arm regrowing instantly.
"Fast regenerator type, huh. Not bad."
"So you're the slowpoke type?"
Boom!
Tatos stomped, collapsing the floor. Dahong leaped sky-high, dodging the shockwave.
Stupid bitch! Can't change direction mid-air!
Mana gathered in Tatos's mouth.
Whoosh!
A dark purple orb shot fast. Dahong slapped it away.
Boom!
It cratered the training ground wall.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Tatos kept firing orbs. Dahong landed and dashed, weaving through them. The moment Tatos turned to track her—
Crunch!
"...!"
Something shattered its jaw from below. Two eyes glanced down. Dahong had snuck up, hand plunged in.
Tatos grabbed her with both hands and blasted point-blank mana.
Boom!!
This close, it'd hurt itself too. But it could regenerate. Could she?
"Grk."
Tatos grinned satisfied. Face already healed. Most demons specialized—one strength, one weakness. Like this speed freak with no regen... usually.
A sound from above.
"Stole powers from multiple uppers? Why not use more?"
"...?"
Thud thud. Its hands tumbled from its head.
Swish. Long white hair draped over.
"Don't know how?"
Dahong peered into Tatos's face, head tilted.
"..."
Whoosh!
A thick tail whipped at supersonic speed. Dahong caught it like a rubber ball.
"Wanna take a hit?"
"...RAAAAAGH!!!!"
Tatos roared in humiliation.
Boom!
It punched its own crown, heaving.
Dahong reappeared unscathed elsewhere.
"That it? Lame."
All five eyes fixed on her.
Me lose? No way.
It had devoured dozens of uppers. No way it'd be toyed with like this. Simple matchup issue. Long fight, its regen wins. But dragging it out was risky. That angel-handling investigator might show. Other academy profs too. Needed a different play. Opponent seemed cocky...
Time to use that?
"Grr, arrogant. Can you block this?"
"Ooh, confident."
Tatos slammed hands to the ground, anchoring.
One technique never used from its devoured arsenal. Too mana-heavy, one-shot only. Last resort, no holding back.
Crack.
Ambient mana swirled into its mouth. It thickened, turned blinding white. Mana vortex whipped gale-force winds.
"Aaaah!!"
"Nyaaah!"
Seha clutched Ruby, bracing not to blow away. Air quaked. Debris floated. Dust poured from walls.
This was bad. Seha yelled.
"Dahong! Dodge!!"
Dahong didn't budge.
Tatos grinned.
"Even a great demon couldn't survive this!"
Fwooooosh!!
White beam engulfed Dahong. Light swallowed vision. Seha shut his eyes.
"Ughhh!!!"
Wind howled, heat scorched skin.
Fade...
Tatos panted.
"...Ha. Ha."
Floor glowed red-hot. Black smoke rose. All-out attack. Everything poured in. Arms limp. Legs shook. Mana depleted.
But done.
"Heh, heh..."
Over. No one blocks that. Mystery demon died cocky.
Smoke cleared. Slowly.
Tatos's five eyes stared ahead.
Beam path: empty. Dahong's spot...
"?"
Familiar silhouette.
Still there. Original spot.
Dahong shook one hand like it tingled, standing unmoved. Only change: torn suit sleeve, exposing pale forearm.
"..."
Tatos's mouth corners drooped. Body trembled. Cold sweat.
"...No way."
Voice shook.
"L-lie. Say it's a lie."
Dahong looked at Tatos. No curiosity left. Eyes like viewing an insect.
Tatos's legs buckled.
Thud.
One knee hit. 2m+ upper demon. Devourer of dozens. On its knee.
Not upper.
Dahong stepped closer.
Not great either.
Step.
Something more? Impossible. Can't exist. Shouldn't!
Dahong stood before it. Tatos shook like a leaf.
Dahong touched its cheek.
"Boring."
Vision went red. Mind blanked. Instinct screamed.
Run run run runrunrun—
"Hiiiieeeek!!"
Tatos shrieked. No pride. No face. Centuries built, tossed. Turned tail.
Desperate sprint.
Thud thud thud thud.
Toward exit.
"..."
Dahong watched fleeing Tatos, raised hand casually. Like swatting a fly.
Swish.
Splat.
Head exploded. Black chunks scattered.
Headless body staggered two steps, crashed like a log.
Thud. Ground shook.
Purple smoke rose from neck stump. No blood. Hollow inside.
And.
Among chunks, something writhed. Fist-sized. Slimy meat lump with long tail. Eyeless, mouth-only. Pathetic.
Tatos's true body.
It oriented, crawled.
Slither slither slither...
Dahong gazed at desperate crawler. Could stomp it, but no interest.
"Eh, it'll die on its own."
Dahong turned from worthless parasite, walked to Seha.
Tatos's battle form sprawled headless. Beside: human skin of Woo Hyunho. Torn suit. Loose tie. All empty shells.
Purple smoke wafted slowly.
"..."
Seha bit his lip, staring.
Thought he was good. Same-class senior. Understood his struggles.
That guy was a demon. Hollow inside. Never human.
Eyes burned.
"Why..."
Seha's shoulders shook.
"Nyaong."
Ruby looked up worriedly.
"...I was the idiot."
Dahong eyed Seha. Tears streamed.
"Knew nothing... Liked him. Same class. Listened to me."
Seha clenched fists. Knuckles white.
"You knew, right Dahong? From the start."
"Yeah."
Short answer.
"...Why didn't you tell me?"
"Would you have believed?"
"..."
Seha shut up. No. Would've laughed it off as joke.
"You're weak."
Dahong said flatly. No emotion. Plain fact, no comfort.
"Weak, so fooled. Weak, so used. Weak, can't tell what's beside you."
"..."
"Can't tell good from evil? Not kind. Stupid."
Cruel words. Seha's shoulders jerked. Tears rolled.
But.
"...You're right."
Seha wiped tears roughly with sleeve.
"Right. I was stupid."
Looked up. Eyes red, bloodshot. Tears unending.
But not crying eyes.
"I'll get strong."
"..."
"Strong enough not to be fooled next time. Not used."
Firm gaze at Dahong.
"Strong enough not to embarrass you."
Dahong looked down. Tear-streaked resolve. Pathetic, ashamed, angry.
But uncrushed.
Not bad. Reminded her of her first hell drop.
Heh.
Dahong grinned.
"Good."
"Nyaong."
Ruby rubbed Seha's ankle.
Dahong flicked Seha's forehead.
"C'mon, let's go."
"...Where?"
"Meat. Suddenly craving."
"..."
Seha sniffled.
"Dahong... you always think about food?"
"Food's most important."
Seha laughed. Trio chatted out.
"Training ground's wrecked. What now?"
"Leave to Teacher Seoyeun."
"...She'll faint."
"Damn! Damn! Damn!"
Bushes. Meat-tentacle vented rage.
Hundreds of years. Clawed from low to mid. Mid to upper. Changing hosts, preying, surviving.
Battle form built. Techniques gathered.
Ended by one casual swat.
"What was that... What the hell!!"
Tentacle sagged. No host. No battle form. Mana gone.
...Over.
Then.
Shadow fell.
"...?"
Someone stood. Sunset through bushes hid face.
Tatos's tentacle twitched.
"Pathetic state."
Young voice.
"W-who."
"Curious?"
Shadow stepped closer. Larger shadow beside. Voice female.
"Upper rank."
"Hm, unique. Parasite specialist..."
Young voice muttered.
"L-live... please..."
Tatos scraped desperately.
Small hand descended. Pale thumb and index pinched it up.
"I'll let you live."
Tatos looked up. Hopeful words.
Owner smiled.
"Kidding."
"...!"
"Your memories, skills, experience devoured. Looks tasty."
"Wait, wait—"
"Oh, and."
Heh.
Shadow grinned.
"That demon you saw. Need those memories."
Tatos whipped tentacles madly.
"N-no. No—"
Mouth opened. Tatos fell in.
Chomp chomp. Gulp.
Boy's throat bobbed.
"..."
Woman's shadow asked.
"How is it."
"Mm—."
Boy savored memories.
"Fun."
Young voice laughed.
"Maybe stronger than before."
"..."
Woman silent.
"Ahh, can't wait. My love."
Boy hummed happily. Then stopped abruptly.
"But. What's that bug beside you?"
"..."
"Hm, annoying."
Red eyes glinted in dark.