“Government soldiers? Why should I join them?” Jyu asked with a confused expression.

  Wirtz could only snort in annoyance. “You already possess demonic power. Someone like you cannot live as an ordinary human. The government has enforced a rule—people like you must use their power for the interests of the state.”

  “What’s in it for me?” Jyu shot back, staring at Wirtz sharply.

  Wirtz looked at him seriously. “Benefits? You’ll be given a pce to live and wages for your service in maintaining the nation’s security and stability.”

  “Actually, I’ve been granted the authority to force you to join the government army. But before I take that step, we should talk this through, and you don’t make a foolish decision.”

  “Hey… hey… hey! You shouldn’t threaten me like that. I’m not someone who can be threatened,” Jyu asserted firmly. Not yet even twenty years old, Jyu indeed had a temperamental attitude. The slightest threat was enough for him to refuse and retaliate. Moreover, his confidence had skyrocketed after successfully awakening his demonic power.

  With arrogance, Jyu tried to attack Wirtz. But it was useless. In an instant, Wirtz summoned his demon, which immediately blocked Jyu’s punch. Jyu retreated at once. Now, before him stood a demon with an overwhelmingly terrifying aura. Its form resembled a human, yet its entire body was covered in bck scales. Its face was dreadful, with strange zigzag horns shaped like lightning bolts.

  “If you want to fight, I’ll entertain you. So bring out your demon now.”

  Only then did Jyu realize—yes, he had awakened his demonic power, but he had not learned how to use it. Challenging Wirtz, who was clearly far more experienced, could mean dying foolishly.

  “Forget it! I used to be like you, unwilling to join the government army. But I had no other choice,” Wirtz said, and at the same time, his demon vanished.

  “What do you mean?” Jyu grew more confused by Wirtz’s words. It was as if he were being forced into the government army, with no room for negotiation.

  “I used to be poor. Joining the government army allowed me to live comfortably and with honor. I can eat well every day, go on vacations, and have a beautiful girlfriend.”

  “And one more thing…” Wirtz paused for a few seconds, as if thinking of something important.

  Jyu could only wait while listening to his heartbeat pounding faster and faster.

  “For a beginner like you, your demon’s power will be useless without guidance. And once you’ve awakened your demonic power, life in the world becomes far more terrifying. If you’re not skilled in using it, I guarantee that three days from now, you’ll be dead.”

  Jyu listened seriously. His view of his future was beginning to widen. In his opinion, joining the government army no longer seemed like the wrong decision. At the very least, he could live comfortably and peacefully without struggling for money. As for the threat of mystical creatures, Jyu was still confident he could handle them—especially since his demon’s power was at the “Supreme” level.

  “Alright! I’ll join you.”

  The Surcy who had successfully awakened their demonic powers were obligated to maintain the stability of the world against attacks from mystical creatures. They would join the DV Army, a special force tasked with exterminating any demon that infiltrated the human world.

  There was one fundamental reason the Surcy carried this obligation: the DV Army cked sufficient troops. Not many Surcy managed to pass or return to the real world. Most of them died in Darkent. Meanwhile, demons infiltrating the world were numerous, with varying strengths from the weakest to the most powerful. They sought fragile souls to devour. For this reason, Surcy who had awakened their demonic powers were desperately needed to eradicate these mystical beings.

  Most Surcy were willing to join the DV Army; almost none refused. The reason was simple—by joining, they would gain honor and a decent life. After all, nearly all Surcy came from marginalized backgrounds, poor and oppressed throughout their lives.

  ---

  Accompanied by Wirtz, Jyu had now arrived at the DV Army headquarters. Strangely, the pce was secluded, surrounded by forest and far from residential areas. There was no guard at the entrance; the gate stood wide open as if inviting anyone to enter.

  Jyu and Wirtz arrived by car. Slowly, a rge house with a cssic design came into view.

  “This is the pce?” Jyu said in confusion. In his mind, a military headquarters was supposed to be cool and magnificent. But the DV Army headquarters was nothing like that. It felt more like the hideout of fugitives.

  “Are you sure this is suitable as a headquarters?”

  Wirtz listened to Jyu’s confusion but remained focused on driving. “Our headquarters and training grounds must be far from residential areas.”

  “But this pce doesn’t fit to be called a headquarters. It’s more like a prison. I’m starting to doubt whether becoming a government soldier really makes our lives better,” Jyu said while looking around through the car window.

  Wirtz only gave a faint smile upon hearing Jyu’s st remark.

  Moments ter, their car stopped right in front of the rge cssic-style house. Jyu and Wirtz stepped out and entered.

  “Are you sure this is the pce?” Jyu was once again baffled by the condition of the house—or the DV Army headquarters. The interior was empty. There were no signs of life there.

  Wirtz began to lose patience with Jyu’s ck of composure. “You really have no patience, do you?”

  Wirtz then left Jyu, who seemed reluctant to enter further. He walked toward a shelf filled with small jars. One jar was red with bck and white patterns. Wirtz slowly twisted it, and in an instant, the wall beside the shelf slid open.

  “There’s an elevator? Isn’t this house only one floor?” Jyu was startled when the wall opened, revealing an elevator behind it.

  “Get in!” Wirtz said.

  Now both of them were inside the elevator. It had four buttons, meaning four accessible floors. Wirtz pressed the first button, and a second ter the elevator descended.

  “There are four floors here. The first floor is the soldiers’ quarters. The second floor is the DV Army’s central office. The third and fourth floors are training areas,” Wirtz expined.

  “Now get out and rest! Tomorrow you’ll begin intense training. Your room is number 10, at the far corner,” he added as the elevator reached the first floor.

  Jyu stepped out and walked down a corridor lined with soldiers’ rooms on both sides. From Wirtz’s expnation, his room was at the very end. It was quite a long walk.

  Now Jyu was inside his room. There were two beds, but apparently no other soldier occupied them yet. That meant Jyu was alone in the room.

  The room was neatly arranged. Jyu had been provided with various facilities—good food, spare clothes, even a cellphone.

  Jyu was tired and hungry, but he had no desire to rest. His heart and mind were still curious about the strange feeling he had repeatedly experienced after emerging from the grave.

  In his thoughts, Kuma—the demon doll that was his power—kept appearing. The figure seemed to want to communicate with him, or perhaps even come out from its dwelling pce inside Jyu’s body.

  “How do I bring you out?” Jyu was confused, as he truly did not yet know how to release the demon stored within him.

  Jyu closed his eyes, as if meditating to search for Kuma. “Come out!”

  In an instant, Kuma stood before him.

  “Why? Why is my power this ridiculous?” Jyu said in dissatisfaction as he looked at Kuma’s true form.