A Certain Demon's Evolutionary Tale

I struck it down! Again! And again! And again! And again!

Without regard for the number of times, I just kept hammering away at the tough scales!

Its shell was infuriatingly resilient, but I refused to stop. I needed to break through. My grip tightened and I swung with relentless determination. Crack after crack, I struck with all my strength. The rock in my hand grew dangerously hot from the repeated impact. And then, finally! A fracture surfaced on the alpha's shell.

Victory was within reach!

But just as I was about to deliver the final blow, a chilling realization crept over me.

My kin, those who hadn't yet reached Level 10 and had merely been resting from fatigue? They were awake. Their eyes, now out of their shells, were locked on me.

The sound of rock colliding against hardened shells had roused them from their slumber.

I froze.

A moment of hesitation.

Should I continue with them watching? Or stop and assess the situation?

Their expressions, if you could call them that, were unreadable. Were they confused? Curious? Or perhaps they understood exactly what I was doing but didn't know how to react?

Either way, they weren't interfering.

Was that a good sign? A bad one? I didn't know.

And frankly, I didn't care.

I had started this, and no matter the cost, I intended to see it through.

So, without another thought, I raised both rocks high and brought them crashing down onto the alpha's already weakened shell!

The shell resisted, unyielding to the very end. The stones in my hands cracked under the strain, threatening to crumble into dust. But I didn't stop. I kept going, pouring every ounce of strength into each swing, determined to finish what I started.

And then—

Crack!

The fissure widened.

You have killed a Lv.10 Demon Larva!

You have slain an opponent 4 levels higher than yours!

A massive experience point has been acquired!

You have levelled up!

Demon Larva. Lv6 -> Demon Larva. Lv7

You have levelled up!

Demon Larva. Lv7 -> Demon Larva. Lv8

8 stat points acquired!

2 skill points acquired!

But the notifications didn't stop.

You Have Killed a Demon in its Evolution Phase!

You Have Defied the Natural Laws of Nature!

You Have Earned a Title: Defier of Nature!

Defier of Nature: You who refused to conform to the natural law have succeeded in halting nature from taking its course!

Title Effect: Will reflect during your evolution!

I stared at the messages, momentarily stunned.

Levelling up twice in a single battle? That wasn't something I had anticipated. But now that it had happened, a new thought took root in my mind.

What if I took out more of them?

What if I eliminated every single Level 10 Demon Larva in the process of evolving?

The very idea sent a thrill through me.

I turned, searching for the next closest target.

But as I moved forward, I noticed something unsettling.

The others were still watching. Their eyes remained fixed on me, unblinking.

By now, I expected at least one of them to intervene, to challenge me for what I had done. If that happened, I was prepared.

[Available Stat Points: 32]

I had enough to raise my attributes if necessary. If one attacked, I could hold my own. If they came at me in a group, I'd pour everything into agility to make my escape.

I was ready.

But what happened next took me completely by surprise.

One of them who had been watching in silence finally decided to move.

Dragging its heavy shell, it crept forward. On its way, it grabbed a rock.

I narrowed my eyes.

Don't tell me…

It stopped beside another Level 10 Demon Larva undergoing evolution. And then, just like I had—

It struck.

My body tensed.

That bastard!

It was trying to steal my kill!

I had already set my sights on every last evolving Demon Larva in this cavern. I had been imagining the surge of levels I'd gain after wiping them all out. Never, not even once had I considered that another would get the same idea.

Rage flared inside me.

Before I could react, however, something even more infuriating happened.

The other onlookers, those who had been nothing more than spectators also began moving not long after it did.

They reached for rocks.

One after another, they advanced toward the vulnerable Demon Larvae.

And then... chaos ensued.

The open plains erupted into a frenzy.

Rocks slammed against hardened shells. Every Demon Larva was scrambling, desperate to claim the highest kill count.

These creatures… They truly were demons. Ruthless, opportunistic scavengers, ready to take what didn't belong to them the moment they saw an advantage.

Like hell I was going to let them outdo me!

I launched forward, driven by a primal urge to seize victory.

This was now a race.

A test of speed, efficiency, and sheer brutality.

I had to be faster. I had to be smarter. If I hesitated for even a moment, the others would rob me of my chance.

I didn't bother checking everyone's levels when the slaughter began, but by the time the dust settled, I stood among the fallen, panting from exertion.

And my level was now—

Malvos

Race: Demon [Infant]

Species: [Demon Larva] - Lvl. 9

General Skill: [Comprehension] - Lvl. 7

Racial Skill: Universal Language Discernment - Lvl. 1

Hp: 190/190

Sp: 190/190

Mp: 190/190

Stats:

[Vitality]: 5

[Strength]: 5

[Wisdom]: 5

[Agility]: 5

[Available Stat Points: 36]

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 9]

I had improved, exactly as I had hoped I would.

But it still wasn't enough, not for me nor for the goal I had for myself.

I could feel it. I knew deep within me that there remains more room for growth, a higher level of attainment I needed to arrive at before I could allow myself any form of solace.

This wasn't my limit. It can't be.

For me, this is nothing more than a paved path to what I feel my true self can become!

And without a doubt, I would! So long as I did not give up pursuing it.