There were two people, hugging each other desperately as their life flashed before their eyes. Their bodies shook violently, and urine soaked their pants.
"M-Monsterrr! Monster!" they both screamed in unison.
"You bastards deserve a cruel death for what you did to her." A boy with glowing yellow eyes stood in front of them, his voice calm yet seething.
"No… not just a simple death. You deserve something far better." He turned his head slightly, glancing at the girl behind him. Her sobs were faint, her torn dress exposing the abuse she had endured.
"What do you think about this?" he asked softly, though he clearly didn't expect an answer. His tone carried no real question—it was only a statement in disguise.
"You don't have to be afraid of me, as long as you keep my secrets to yourself. I hope you understand."
The girl gave a weak nod. He smiled faintly, and in the next instant a purple crack split the air. Out of it, a horrifying creature emerged.
The boy's gaze locked onto the demon's eyes. "Absolute control."
[Absolute Control Activated]
The creature unfolded its form—dragon-like wings sharp as blades, a single horn on its forehead, elongated clawed hands, and pale, corpse-like skin. If one looked closely, its eyeballs were etched with lines of yellow energy, it was clear that it was not in its control.
"Kill them both in the most brutal way possible," the boy ordered, his glowing eyes unblinking.
He stepped in front of the girl and shielded her sight. "Cover your ears. The sounds might haunt you later."
The screams of agony grew louder and louder, echoing across the night until finally they fell silent. The black ground was now painted in red, moonlight gleaming on the blood as though mocking the massacre.
[Absolute Control Over]
Kai exhaled heavily. In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind the demon. Before it could react, its head rolled to the ground.
[You've Defeated a Demon]
_________________________________________
–Present Day–
"At least I can try," Kai muttered to himself as he stared back at the large mansion behind him—a place that once was his home, but now belonged to his aunt Mary. Ever since his parents had left and never returned, he had been treated like trash, like a servant in his own house. This place had shown him no mercy. But today… today was different.
It felt as if the long dark night was finally ending—or maybe he was just escaping one maze, only to walk into another.
At least it'll be a different place this time.
Taking a deep breath, Kai patiently waited for the bus to arrive.
In this world, only those with money or abilities held true power. Everyone else… lived under their shadow. This was the new era. The era of soulbonds.
Kai's eyes drifted down to the black card in his hand, a multifunctional ID. The balance flashed across its display.
200 Cenytes, huh? Eight years of savings.
He glanced at his shoes—worn, with holes scattered across the leather. His clothes were at least decent, but knowing they were hand-me-downs abandoned by his cousin Kyro Zen left a bitter taste.
The bus screeched to a stop right in front of him. In the glass of the door, his own reflection stared back—dark brown eyes, tired but sharp, framed by messy black strands of hair that brushed his shoulders.
"Guess I need a proper haircut," he muttered, pressing his ID to the scanner. The door slid open with a sharp beep.
Kai stepped inside and took a seat.
The air in the bus was heavy, tense. He looked around and noticed nearly every aspirant wore the same expression—nervous, anxious, some even whispering prayers.
It made sense. The world was divided into two major categories: those with soulmarks and abilities, and those without. Today's assessment would decide which path each of them fell into. No one wanted to end up in the second category. Without power—or money—life would be cruel. Families without abilities often lived on the edge, and crime rates in that category soared higher than anywhere else.
Still, Kai wasn't as worried as the others. His thoughts drifted back to the conversation he'd just had with Kyro.
---
"I'm here to offer you a fair trade," Kyro had said with a grin.
"Huh…?" Kai was stunned. No one in this family ever spoke to him in a gentle tone. Why is he asking like I actually have a choice? …Maybe he doesn't know about my position in this household. After all, he doesn't live here.
"Is it really this hard to decide?" Kyro's smile began to fade as he waited for an answer.
"What is it?" Kai finally asked, his voice steady. "What do you want me to do?"
Kyro Zen smiled again. "There's a certain task I want you to do. In return, I'll give you freedom—freedom from being a servant in your own house."
Kai's eyes widened. So… he does know about it.
Kai's gaze scanned the boy from head to toe. Unlike himself, Kyro's hair was neatly cut—short enough to stay sharp, long enough to fall over his eyebrows. His black trench coat, lined with thin golden stripes, fit him perfectly. At five-foot-seven, he stood almost eye-to-eye with Kai.
He's only fifteen, and he's talking about freedom like he actually understands it? I heard he's a genius, but this much?
"You still don't believe me, right?" Kyro asked, tilting his head slightly. "Well… I already have something for you in advance."
He revealed a small black box. When he opened it, Kai's eyes widened even more.
It was a golden ID card with black trims running along the edges.
"1,000 Cenytes?!" Kai blurted out, unable to hide his excitement. He'd never seen that much money in one place before.
"Once you complete the task, I'll give you ten times this amount."
"I accept," Kai said immediately.
Kyro Zen laughed, loud and sharp. "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! I knew it. I knew you wouldn't deny."
---
The bus soon stopped at the teleport station. The students followed the instructor's orders and began to gather in rows—five in total.
"Everyone! Divide into five rows; we have five teleporters waiting. Hold each other's hands while passing through the teleporters. You'll leave after ID verification," the instructor barked.
Kai already knew all of this thanks to Kyro's briefing—information that now felt unnecessary.
After verifying their IDs, every student in each row clasped hands tightly and stepped into the teleporters one by one, like a train vanishing into a tunnel.
The moment they crossed the threshold, a strange sensation washed over them. It felt like their bodies were being twisted and stretched in every possible direction, as though every joint was being pulled apart. Their stomachs churned, like butterflies but heavier, sharper. Students squeezed each other's hands until the sensation eased.
Then, in an instant, they were standing in a large room with smooth, metallic-white walls. The teleporter room.
A moment later, a voice boomed through hidden speakers.
"Everyone! I, the Head General, welcome you to one of Earth's most privileged institutions—the Demon Militarization Institute," said a man whose voice carried the authority of someone in his mid-forties. "I wish you all luck in your upcoming assessments. The timing and location details have already been sent to your IDs. Until then, feel free to explore the DMI, or if you're tired, you can rest in the designated rooms. Your IDs have the full DMI map installed already."
Kai sighed and opened the map on his ID. A holographic panel flickered to life, displaying a 2D layout. He found the nearest toilet and followed the glowing path.
Inside, after making sure there were no surveillance devices, he took out a black box from his backpack. Opening it, he drew out the golden ID card with black stripes. Then he pulled out his old black ID card and connected a microchip to it.