A Certain Demon's Evolutionary Tale

Regrettably, I was still being followed.

The other Demon Larvae trailed behind me like shadows, their presence an ever-looming weight. I couldn't fathom what was going through their primitive minds. Why would they choose to follow someone weaker than them? What did they see in me?

And yet, despite my frustration, I couldn't deny the benefits. Our journey had led us into encounters with other Demon Larvae, hostile groups that would have overwhelmed me had I been alone. But I wasn't.

The ones who followed me fought by my side.

Though our numbers were smaller, our strength eclipsed that of our enemies. It was a simple matter of quality over quantity. Their assistance ensured our victory, and as a result, several of them had now reached a critical threshold—level 10.

This was it. Evolution was within their grasp.

They should be leaving me now, seeking isolation to undergo their transformation. That was the natural course of things. The ideal path I would have sought if I was in their shoes.

But they weren't leaving. They remained, lingering around me, waiting.

Race: Demon [Infant]

Species: [Demon Larva] - Lv.10

State: Evolutionary Hibernation [Vulnerable]

Race: Demon [Infant]

Species: [Demon Larva] - Lv.10

State: Evolutionary Hibernation [Vulnerable]

Race: Demon [Infant]

Species: [Demon Larva] - Lv.10

State: Evolutionary Hibernation [Vulnerable]

I stared at them, dumbfounded.

What were they thinking? Were they truly so fearless, or simply foolish? Evolution left them defenseless just like the Alpha before its demise. And yet, they chose to undergo this transformation right here, in full view of the others, including me.

Had they already forgotten what we had done to the last ones who attempted this?

I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling beneath my skin. What was wrong with them? Were they incapable of learning from the past? Or was I the only one here advanced enough to recognize the fatal flaw in this decision?

I didn't understand.

But if they were willing to make such an idiotic mistake, then I might as well capitalize on it.

Without hesitation, I grabbed two sharp-edged rocks and approached the nearest Larva amid its transformation.

It was so easy.

One solid strike and I could shatter its shell before the process was complete. Free experience. A faster way to level up. There was no reason not to do it.

And yet, I paused.

Not out of mercy. Not out of indecision.

I turned, scanning the others who remained conscious. They were watching me, their small black eyes locked onto my every move. I had expected them to act before I did, to finish off their vulnerable kin without hesitation. But they didn't.

They just stared.

What were they waiting for? Did they expect me to make the first move? Were they deferring to me?

The rock in my hand felt heavier.

I was ready to strike. My body was coiled with tension, prepared to bring it down on the exposed shell. But for some reason, I hesitated.

Why?

Why couldn't I do it?

The answer gnawed at the edge of my mind, frustratingly out of reach.

I took a breath, forcing myself to think. The others had chosen to follow me. That much was clear. But why?

And more importantly, why had they chosen to evolve in my presence, knowing full well I could decide to kill them?

Was it trust?

No. It wasn't just that.

After the Alpha's death, the remaining Larvae had naturally fallen in line behind me. As if, on some instinctual level, they had imprinted on me as their new leader.

But why?

I wasn't the strongest among them. Not by a long shot. Our kind valued strength above all else. Or at least I would think they do from how they all chose to follow the former leader because he was the strongest of the clan.

Yet, they had chosen to disregard that fundamental truth in favour of following me.

The realization sent an uncomfortable chill through me.

If they truly saw me as their leader, then killing them wasn't just a simple matter of harvesting experience. It was something more… something personal.

I gritted my teeth.

Why was this so difficult? I had no attachment to them. They were nothing more than other Demon Larvae, creatures just like me. Weak. Disposable. Killing them should have been easy.

And yet, I couldn't do it.

The rock trembled in my grip before I slowly lowered it.

I didn't understand why I felt this way, and it frustrated me beyond words. I was letting a golden opportunity slip through my fingers? Experience points, strength, and an undeniable path forward to my goal. But for some reason, I felt like sparing them was… worth the risk.

I wanted it to be worth the risk.

So, I waited.

I stood back and watched as the first of them entered their final phase of evolution.

A flicker of curiosity sparked within me. What would they become? Would they still recognize me as their leader once they evolved? Or would they turn against me, discarding their past selves and rising as something new... something stronger, with no need for the weak Larva I was now?

The questions piled up, endless and unrelenting.

This was dangerous. I knew that.

If they evolved and decided I was no longer worthy of leading them, I would be the first they eliminated. I would be standing face-to-face with creatures far stronger than myself, outnumbered and without an escape route.

The risks were staggering.

And yet…

I was willing to take the gamble.

Because if there was one undeniable truth I had learned from surviving this long, it was that the greater the risk, the higher the reward.

I could kill them now and ensure my safety. Or I could let them evolve, stepping into the unknown, embracing the uncertainty.

And who knew?

Maybe, just maybe… something great awaited me at the end of this choice.

A thrill of anticipation crawled up my spine as I made my decision.

I released the rock from my grasp, letting it fall to the ground with a dull thud.

And then, I waited.