The Real Demon

The fire crackled softly, throwing long shadows across the room. Min Joon sat cross-legged on the floor, poking at the flames with a stick, his face unusually serious. He glanced at Jin Seok, who sat across from him, knees drawn up and arms resting on them.

"So… this is it, huh?" Min Joon finally said, his voice quieter than usual. "After the funeral, we all go our separate ways." He dropped the stick into the fire and leaned back on his hands, staring at the flickering flames. "Kinda weird to think about."

Jin Seok didn't respond immediately. His golden eyes were fixed on the fire, his expression calm but distant. "Yeah," he said after a moment, his voice low. "It's the end."

Min Joon frowned, glancing at his friend. "You make it sound so final," he said, his tone carrying a hint of frustration. "Like we're never gonna see each other again."

Jin seok did not want to give hope to him because he knew that ıf he couldnt master the demonic IQ in him he could gone mad and even become enemies with Min Joon,thats why he said while still staring at the fire. "Maybe we won't."

Min Joon sat up straight, his frown deepening. "Don't say that," he said firmly. "That's not how this ends."

Jin Seok turned his head slightly, giving Min Joon a sideways glance. "You're awfully sure of yourself," he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

Min Joon grinned, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Of course I am," he said, his usual bravado creeping back into his voice. "You think I'd let you get away that easily? Nah, one day, we'll meet again. As The Richest and Strongest together."

Jin Seok raised an eyebrow, his expression still.

But Min joon grin was widening. "You'll be the strongest, obviously. Smashing through anyone who stands in our way. And me? I'll be the richest man alive. Gold piled so high, you won't even see the top."

For the first time that night, Jin Seok looked directly at Min Joon. His eyes softened, and for a brief moment, the weight of everything they'd been through seemed to lift. "Our Dreams, huh?" he said quietly. He turned back to the fire, the flickering light reflecting in his golden eyes. "Alright. For now."

Min Joon tilted his head, grinning again. "For now," he repeated. "But just you wait. One day, richest and strongest—we'll eat and fight side by side, just like we said. No one will be able to stop us."He said this time while shouting.

Jin Seok chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're stubborn, you know that?"

"Damn right I am," Min Joon said proudly.

Silence fell between them again, but it felt lighter this time. The fire crackled and popped, its warmth wrapping around them like a fragile shield against the cold, desolate night. The light flickered over their faces, highlighting their young. Min Joon absently prodded the fire with a stick, sending sparks spiraling upward.

Unnoticed at first, a pair of crimson eyes watched them from the shadows of the same house. The red haired girl sat quietly in a corner, her gaze unwavering. Her expression was telling she was curious,her curiosity was evident as she observed the boys with her crimson eyes.

A faint plume of smoke began rising from a part of the village, Outside, So Hyeon's voice broke the stillness, calling out to them with urgency.

"Hey! You two! Get over here!"

Min Joon stood quickly, his legs stiff from sitting. "We'd better see what she wants," he said, brushing the ash off his hands. Jin Seok nodded and started to follow, but as he moved toward the door, his steps faltered.

He turned his head slowly, his eyes locking onto the crimson-eyed girl who was seated in the shadows binded by ropes. She couldn't move, but her piercing gaze held him still, The light from the fire made her features soft yet intense, leaving Jin Seok momentarily spellbound.

"Jin Seok!" Min Joon called from the doorway, snapping him out of his trance.

"I'm coming," Jin Seok muttered

His voice barely above a whisper. His feet shuffled toward the door, but before stepping out, he glanced over his shoulder one last time. The girl hadn't moved, her crimson eyes still fixed on him with that same enigmatic curiosity.

Jin Seok closed the door behind him, the wooden frame creaking in protest, but the image of the girl's eyes lingered in his mind, vivid and unshakable.she was beautiful,he thought to himself.

After walking a while Min Joon glanced at Jin Seok with a mischievous grin. "Hey, want to run to see who's faster?" he challenged, his tone light but with an undertone of curiosity. Ever since they met, Min Joon had always been faster and stronger. But now, after everything they had been through, he couldn't help but wonder—how much stronger had Jin Seok become?

Jin Seok didn't reply immediately. Instead, he looked at Min Joon, his expression calm and unreadable. Then, without warning, he began counting.

"Three..."

Min Joon blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, what—?"

"Two..." Jin Seok continued, completely ignoring Min Joon's confusion.

Min Joon quickly composed himself, his competitive spirit flaring. "Alright, you wanted this!" he said, crouching slightly to prepare for the sprint.

"One... GO!" Jin Seok shouted, taking off like an arrow released from a bow.

Min Joon reacted quickly, propelling himself forward, but the gap between them grew rapidly. Jin Seok's speed was unlike anything Min Joon had seen before—unnatural, almost inhuman. The boost from his Demonic IQ made every step more powerful than the last, his movements efficient and fluid.

But Min Joon wasn't kind of a person to give up. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself harder, forcing his legs to move faster than they ever had before. Despite the odds, his own heightened IQ kicked in, helping him to close the distance. Slowly but surely, the gap began to shrink.

The air between them grew heavier as they raced toward the source of the smoke. With each step, a new, sickening smell wafted through the air—burning, rotting flesh. The scent hit them like a wall, nearly causing both boys to falter. But they pressed on, their rivalry momentarily pushing the stench to the back of their minds.

As they neared the burning site, their feet pounded the ground in near-perfect unison. With one final burst of speed, they reached the destination at the exact same moment, both skidding to a stop as the smell overwhelmed them.

Min Joon, gasping for air, bent over with his hands on his knees. "A draw, huh? Guess you're finally catching up," he teased, though his tone was strained.

Jin Seok, breathing heavily but more composed, shot him a sidelong glance. "Catching up? Sure," he said with a faint smirk, though his voice carried a hint of mockery.

As they straightened up, the sight before them wiped the playful banter from their faces. The burning place wasn't just smoke and flames—it was a pile of bodies, charred and unrecognizable. The heat radiated from the site, but it wasn't enough to mask the putrid smell of death.

Min Joon's playful demeanor melted away as he stared at the scene. "This… this is what they've been doing all night?" he asked quietly, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Jin Seok didn't respond immediately. His eyes were fixed on the flames, their orange light reflecting in their golden irises. When he finally spoke, his voice was low. "This is what's left of them."

Min Joon glanced at him, wanting to say something, but no words came. The two of them stood in silence, the weight of their surroundings pressing down on them like an invisible force.

As they neared the prayer site, the air around them grew heavy with the scent of burning wood and the faint, lingering odor of decay. The crackling fire cast flickering shadows on the weathered walls of the village houses, illuminating the faces of those gathered in quiet reverence. The sky above had deepened into a dull, gray hue, the clouds swirling in a slow, mournful dance, as if mourning the lives lost.

Leader Yang and the others kneeled before the fire, their heads lowered in solemn prayer. Their forms were cast in a soft, golden glow from the flames, but their eyes remained distant, lost in their thoughts. The fire danced, casting an eerie rhythm as its sparks rose into the sky, vanishing into the cold air.

Leader Yang's voice broke through the stillness, calm yet filled with weight and respect for the fallen.

*"In the presence of the heavens above and the earth below, we gather here today to honor the lives of those who have departed from this world. Though their voices are now silent, their stories remain with us, etched in the fabric of our hearts and history. As they are laid to rest together, may this earth hold them gently, a sacred place for their dreams, their laughter, their love, and their struggles.

Let us who remain carry forth their legacy, finding strength in their courage, purpose in their sacrifices, and resolve to create a world worthy of their memory. May their spirits be a blessing to those left behind, and may we honor them not just with words but with our deeds.

We bow our heads in reverence and whisper our farewells. May they rest in eternal peace."*

As the prayer ended, a soft wind blew across the land, carrying the faintest traces of ash through the air. The moment felt suspended in time, the heavy weight of loss lingering between the living and the dead. Jin Seok and Min Joon stood in silence for a moment, their heads bowed, not just out of respect but also to collect their own thoughts. The crackling of the fire seemed louder now, as if echoing their unspoken thoughts and fears.

After a few moments, Jin Seok glanced over at Min Joon, his golden eyes soft with the weight of the situation. They both rose and, in quiet unity, moved to help with the task at hand. Their footsteps, slow and measured, barely made a sound on the dirt, the world around them feeling muffled, almost unreal.

When the prayers were completed and the bodies tended to, San Woo's voice cut through the stillness, low but firm. "Come with me."

While they were going towards at the edge of the village Min Joon saw So Hyeon and Lee Kang at salute with a dead serious face.He did not understand whats going on before Leader Yang started to talk

'You know Min Joon,San Woo's teaching methods some times goes out of orthodox ways" he said with a awkard smile.

Min Joon didnt understand whats going to be at Jin Seok fate but he understand that he needs to salute as well before saying "Good luck My Friend May luck be With You."

Jin Seok followed, his senses alert, the weight of the day's events pressing down on him. The village, now empty and filled with sorrow, felt as though it were holding its breath. Even the birds that normally sang seemed silent, as if unwilling to disturb the reverence of the moment.

They walked through the village, their steps echoing in the silence, until they reached a small, abandoned house tucked away at the edge of the village. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of death—stale, metallic, and heavy. The floor was littered with bodies, their eyes hollow and lifeless, their once-vibrant skin now ashen and drained of life. Most of them had been stripped of their blood, their veins dark and empty, leaving behind the hollow remains of those who had been used in twisted rituals.

San Woo stood by the door, his expression strangely casual despite the grim scene before them. "These," he said, his voice unsettlingly calm, "are the sacrifices. Used by that bastard to create the talisman that trapped Leader Yang. Most of them were demonic martial artists—people like you." He let out a low chuckle, as if he were talking about something trivial.

Jin Seok knelt down beside one of the bodies, his fingers brushing the cold, lifeless skin. The energy that once filled them was gone, leaving only the empty shell behind. His heart tightened. He was no stranger to death,ever since he came to the this village,but something about this felt different—unnatural, as if the very essence of these people had been stolen from them.

"Could you drain their IQ?" San Woo asked, his gaze flickering over the bodies with an almost detached curiosity. "Or is that impossible?"

Without answering immediately, Jin Seok placed his hand on the nearest body. The moment his skin touched the corpse, a faint pulse of energy surged through him, cold and heavy. He drew it in instinctively, feeling the bitter, twisted power flood through him. But before he could absorb more, something sharp and forceful hit him in the chest, sending him crashing into the wall with a violent thud.

Jin Seok gasped for air, disoriented and confused. He looked up to find San Woo standing over him, a grin plastered on his face.

"What the hell was that for?" Jin Seok demanded, his voice hoarse.

San Woo's grin only widened, his eyes glinting with a perverse delight. "Since We Now Know That You Could Drain Their IQ lets don't get ahead of ourself, my friend," he said with a light chuckle. "You can't just eat them right away. They're your training tools, after all. Can't have you gorging on your 'snacks' on the first day."

Jin Seok's eyes narrowed, the edge of anger creeping into his voice. "Training tools?"

San Woo chuckled darkly. "Exactly. You're going to need to learn how to control that power of yours. And what better way to do it than with these guys?" He waved his hand dismissively toward the bodies. "But hey, we can't have you overloading yourself on your first day. You're going to need more... practice."He said with a perverted smile on his face.

The air in the room felt heavier now, oppressive, as the firelight outside flickered through the window, casting long, twisted shadows across the walls. Jin Seok's chest tightened as the weight of the situation became clear. What he had thought was a simple training session was going to become something far more torturous. The fire outside crackled, echoing his rising unease as he stood, his resolve slowly hardening.*San Woo is more scary than that Lunatic*he thought to himself

Even Then This Was Only The Beginning.