CHAPTER 11 — THE CRIMSON CIRCLE

The line continued moving forward.

One by one, candidates entered the giant circle carved into the floor.

Each time, a brilliant white light appeared.

Moments later, a weapon would materialize in the candidate's hands.

Some cried with joy.

Others laughed proudly.

A few immediately began admiring their new weapons.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement.

But not everyone succeeded.

Several candidates left the circle empty-handed.

Their faces were filled with disappointment.

Years of preparation...

Gone in a matter of minutes.

Dev silently observed everything.

The Hunter world was far harsher than he had expected.

Then suddenly—

A scream echoed throughout the chamber.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Everyone froze.

The crowd immediately turned toward the circle.

Dev's eyes widened.

This time...

The light wasn't white.

It was crimson.

A blood-red glow covered the entire platform.

The candidate trapped inside the circle screamed in agony.

His body began trembling violently.

The veins across his skin turned black.

Fear spread through the crowd instantly.

"What is happening?"

"Why is the circle red?!"

"What's wrong with him?!"

The man's screams became even louder.

Then—

BOOM.

His body burst into black flames.

Dev's heart nearly stopped.

The candidate desperately tried escaping.

But he couldn't move.

The circle held him in place.

Within seconds...

His body turned to ash.

Silence.

Complete silence filled the hall.

Not even a single scream remained.

Only ashes.

The candidate was gone.

Dev stared at the scene in horror.

The smell of burnt flesh filled the air.

Several people looked away immediately.

Others turned pale.

Even Maya looked disturbed.

"What... was that?" she whispered.

Dev immediately turned toward Shaurya.

"Shaurya."

His voice sounded tense.

"What happened?"

For several seconds, Shaurya remained silent.

Then he answered quietly.

"That man sold his soul."

The room became silent once again.

"What?"

Shaurya's expression darkened.

"He made a contract with a Devil."

Dev felt his blood run cold.

A Devil.

The word echoed inside his mind.

The same word.

The same being.

The same darkness.

The thing living inside him.

Shaurya continued.

"The Hall of Resonance rejects anyone whose soul belongs to a Devil."

"The moment such a person enters the circle..."

His gaze moved toward the ashes.

"This happens."

Dev froze.

His breathing became heavier.

The world suddenly felt distant.

Because he knew something nobody else did.

He had also made a contract.

The Devil had taken his soul.

The memory of that night immediately returned.

The darkness.

The red eyes.

The offer.

The contract.

And his answer.

"Take it."

A cold chill ran down his spine.

Dev looked toward the circle again.

His hands slowly clenched.

If the Hall could detect Devil contracts...

Then he was already dead.

His turn would come eventually.

And when it did...

Would he burn the same way?

The thought terrified him.

For the first time since destroying the kingdom...

Dev genuinely felt fear.

Not fear of death.

Fear of the unknown.

Fear of what he had become.

Beside him, Maya noticed his pale face.

"Dev?"

He immediately looked away.

"I'm fine."

But he wasn't.

Not even close.

The line continued moving forward.

One candidate after another entered the circle.

One candidate after another received their weapon.

Meanwhile...

Dev's thoughts grew darker.

Should he leave?

Should he run away?

He didn't need a weapon.

The Devil's power had already made him stronger than ordinary people.

Perhaps leaving now would be safer.

Perhaps—

"Next."

A loud voice echoed across the hall.

Dev looked up.

His thoughts stopped immediately.

Because the person standing before the circle was Maya.

The girl smiled nervously.

Then looked toward Dev and Shaurya.

"Wish me luck."

Shaurya grinned.

"You'll be fine."

Maya laughed softly.

Then she stepped forward.

And sat in the center of the circle.

Dev watched silently.

His fear momentarily forgotten.

Because something told him...

What was about to happen next would be important.

Very important.

Then slowly—

Maya closed her eyes.

And the ancient symbols beneath her began to glow.