SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 86: Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Chapter 86: Everybody Wants To Rule The World

That same night, a visitor arrived at the old man’s livestock yard. He was inhumanly tall — nearly two and a half meters — and cloaked in a hooded mantle that concealed his entire form.

They stood by the stables, the old man’s face twisted in fear.

"W-why have you come now of all times?! I told you, today’s the Hunter Inspection — they won’t leave me alone just because you showed up..."

"Old man, stop rambling," the stranger said in a low, guttural voice. "Did you vaccinate your livestock with what we gave you?"

"Not yet. How could I, with all these inspections going on?! I told you, it’s not that simple—"

"Shhh. Your animals are watching you. They’re hungry."

The old man turned around. Every horse in the stable was staring straight at him, drooling heavily.

"H-how can that be... I already fed them."

"You overdid it. This is what happens when a beast becomes accustomed to a certain kind of meat. Do as you were told, quickly — or you’ll be next on the menu. The serum works differently on animals than it does on people. Don’t worry about your herd — as long as you obey."

Fear for his life overtook him. His bones trembled at every thought of death — especially by the mouths of his own animals.

"I-I’ll do it! Just don’t hurt me!"

Without another word, the towering man disappeared into the darkness.

"You have two days."

That conversation stripped the old man of what little hope he had left — that his past crimes might remain buried. Now, with fear gnawing at him that the Hunters might uncover the truth, his hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

The next morning, loud knocking at the gate jolted him awake.

Still half-drunk, he stumbled to the door. On the table lay ten bottles of beer.

"C-coming!"

As the gates creaked open, stern faces awaited him — Demon Hunters.

Adam and Shingen, clad in black suits, entered the yard, followed by five others.

The old man saw their grim expressions and immediately realized: he was done for.

"W-why did you show up like this? I wasn’t even prepared..."

"Save it, gramps," Shingen said, pushing aside the curtain. "An anonymous report came in — blah blah blah. Long story short: don’t get in the way."

"But the livestock pen’s on the other side!"

Two Hunters entered the house.

The old man rushed to block their path."Y-you can’t go in there! I didn’t g-give you permission!"

Shingen shoved him aside with scorn.

"Quit pretending, old man. You think your filth stays hidden forever? You’ll rot in prison — and if you don’t start talking right now, that’ll turn into a death sentence. Believe me, I will make it happen."

Adam scratched the back of his head awkwardly, thinking to himself, "Man, your interrogation style’s a bit much..."

But the old man cracked. Stammering, he ran for the basement, pressing his body against the door and glaring with pleading eyes.

"Stay back! I swear, I-I won’t be responsible for what happens..."

After a moment of silence, Shingen shoved him away — the old man rolled across the wooden floor like a rag doll. The basement door swung open.

A staircase descended into utter darkness. From that pit came a stench like rotting cemeteries — the kind that seemed alive, fused into a single pulsing carcass.

The old man wept, praying they wouldn’t see what he had hidden away.

Then came the footsteps. Heavy. Muffled. Climbing the stairs.

Something was rising from the abyss.

When it emerged from the shadows, the Hunters froze. A chill ran down their spines.

Before them stood a creature unlike any they’d seen — walking on two legs, yet every part of its body was stitched together from different animals. Its proportions were grotesque. Shingen couldn’t even tell where the head ended and the neck began.

Adam’s eyes widened.

"Hey, old man..." Shingen asked, voice stiff. "What the hell is that?"

"That’s... my child. Don’t hurt him!"

The old man rushed toward the creature, trying to shut the door — but one of its hands wrapped around his neck and dragged him down the stairs.

Adam yanked the man back, tossing him behind. A moment later, he summoned his Kenketsu — his blade materialized in a flash, and he plunged it into the beast’s torso.

It howled in a language no human could understand.

The creature burst into the house, flailing violently. Adam met it head-on, slashing it into pieces in one powerful strike.

"Horns. Hide. Hooves..." Shingen muttered, scanning the shredded corpse. "What the hell were you doing here? How long’s this been going on?!"

The helpless old man stammered.

"S-so you didn’t know...?"

Shame swept over him. He collapsed into sobs.

"He walked on two legs," Adam growled. "You said he’s your child? What, you try to crossbreed your son with livestock, you sick bastard?!"

The old man shook his head.

"That child... is a demon I raised. I fed him everything he needed to grow."

"You piece of shit."

Shingen only patted Adam on the shoulder before stepping outside. The team was ordered to arrest the old man and seize the livestock for further examination.

They had to wait for the final investigation report to get their answers.

Eventually, it was discovered that the old man had a box of syringes — all empty. The blood samples confirmed: the serum in his livestock matched what was found in the creature.

Apparently, it triggered mutation in animals.

Under interrogation, the man admitted to feeding human flesh to his livestock — to dispose of bodies and continue his inhumane experiment. He had raised a brainless demon in his basement.

His testimony and the creature’s form confirmed: these demons could evolve, depending on what they consumed.

Late at night. A penthouse in the Green Zone.

The city lights shimmered beyond the panoramic glass. Silver streams of cars looked like worms slithering over the flesh of the metropolis.

Adam and Shingen sat slouched in leather armchairs, the room dim. Between them — a low glass table, littered with empty and half-full whiskey bottles.

The windows fogged with condensation. Their drinks — cold, bitter, and heavy — tasted like memories better left unspoken.

Women moved around them — shadows with bare shoulders and short dresses, heels clicking on marble floors. They clung to the men like moths to flame: some laughed, others whispered with wandering fingers.

Adam absentmindedly traced the thigh of the girl on his lap, but his gaze never left the window.

Shingen drank in silence.

"Tell me, Shingen... did you ever ask your parents why they made you a Hunter?"

"...Still thinking about last year?"

"I still can’t wrap my head around it. How could they do that to their own kid? What kind of parent makes that decision? It’s selfish — deciding their child’s fate for them."

Shingen glanced at him, took another sip.He rarely saw Adam this serious.

"My parents signed a contract with the Association. We were rich migrants — but still migrants. We weren’t allowed to live in the Green Zone unless I came of age or joined the Korean military. The contract fast-tracked our citizenship."

"Why the Association, not the army? You’d have served your country either way."

"Because of the contract, we got our IDs early. I didn’t know about the experiment part. When I turned eighteen, they forced me into the Association. They pressured my parents... and we couldn’t say no. Huh... funny thing is, they cared more about themselves. When the truth came out, they looked at me like I was a monster bred to kill. Like I wasn’t even their son."

Adam went quiet. He thought of the price migrants paid for a citizenship card.

"Damn it... I hate this feeling," Shingen muttered, surprising his friend. "Gave my life for their approval, and they don’t even see me as human."

"Shingen... my parents too..." Adam lowered his gaze. "They were close to the government. Our farm became strategic when the food crisis hit. We were one of the first to cooperate. And when they asked for ’healthy’ kids for experiments... they didn’t even hesitate."

He spoke like he was reliving it. The girl in his lap might as well have been a ghost.

"I was their opportunity. A ticket to expand their business, build ties, make money..." his voice cracked. "Realizing their kindness was just a mask... it breaks you."

"After that... not just faith, even the will to live disappears," Shingen said quietly.

"Have you even noticed? Do you even know why we do all this? If it’s only for the parents’ will, it doesn’t make sense anymore. Then... what do I even live for as a hunter?"

Silence fell again. Heavy, like smoke settling over them.

The girl on Adam’s lap traced her fingers over his chest with a lazy smile.

"Enough, boys. Why don’t you relax a little?" her voice purred like a cat’s. "Life’s too short to waste on sorrow."

The girl with Shingen nodded, and moved closer, nestling herself under his shoulder.

Shingen smirked faintly.

"And you worried about being replaced already?"

He wrapped an arm around her waist, lifting her effortlessly onto himself like she weighed nothing. His hands slid slowly — deliberately — from her chest, down her back, tracing her bare legs. Every motion sent shivers through her skin.

No more words in the room. Only soft moans, muffled laughter, and the sound of ice melting in half-finished glasses.

The next day. Deep in the wilderness.

No roads. No houses. Just endless hills and tall grass swaying in the wind.The sun hung high, casting golden light over the plain.

At its center stood a man — alone, like a wanderer from legend. His long brown hair danced in the breeze. He closed his blue eyes, and thick, almost black blood streamed from his palm.

But it didn’t fall.

It pulsed in the air, alive, taking shape from another realm.

From his will, like a dream given flesh, a beast was born: a tall, black horse with crimson eyes — sculpted from blood.

Still as a statue — yet seething with potential. Its breathing was quiet, but heavy.

The man looked at the creature with a faint, wistful smile.

It was Lee Kihyun.