Ability users were known as people above ordinary humans.
All ordinary people envied them.
The world of ability users was dazzling and glorious, standing above common people.
Powerful ability users were respected wherever they went.
But what many people failed to understand was that the law of the jungle applied to ability users as well.
The rule of the strong devouring the weak was even more ruthless among them.
Chen Jun understood this very clearly.
After all, he had once been a C-rank ability user.
In a sense, the Human Alliance itself existed to restrain ability users from acting completely without limits.
Even ability users still needed a way to survive.
Because his strength was insufficient and he did not want to be restricted by the Human Alliance, Chen Jun had chosen to associate with Mr. Dai.
Anyone who worked with a so-called "eye collector" like Mr. Dai could hardly be considered a good person.
Chen Jun did not share Mr. Dai's pathological hobby.
But he was still a ruthless individual.
As long as he could obtain power—
Serving multiple masters meant nothing to him.
However…
Chen Jun licked his dry lips.
His gaze unintentionally drifted toward the half-destroyed corpse nearby.
Greed and hunger appeared in his green eyes.
But soon he snapped out of it.
He had just felt an urge to eat a corpse.
"…Have I become a monster too?"
"As for you two…"
After dealing with Chen Jun, Mammon turned his emotionless crimson eyes toward Mr. Dai and the fat man in the suit.
They were only ordinary humans.
Mammon had no interest in turning them into demons.
It wasn't that Mammon didn't want to create more demons.
But at this stage, there was no need to be overly high-profile.
What did demons eat?
Flesh and blood.
Although this world contained countless kinds of creatures, for demons the most suitable food was still weak humans.
If Mammon recklessly created large numbers of demons, it would cause terrible disasters for humanity.
And that would inevitably attract the attention of the Human Alliance, leading to a full-scale extermination campaign.
That would be extremely disadvantageous for Mammon.
Even in the original story, Kibutsuji Muzan had always hidden carefully.
He was terrified that another person like Yoriichi Tsugikuni might appear and kill him.
Mammon had even less reason to act recklessly.
At present, he simply didn't have the strength to oppose the entire world.
To put it bluntly—
Right now he wasn't even comparable to the Epic-class giant squid in the Atlantic Ocean.
If the Human Alliance launched a nuclear weapon at him, forget regeneration.
Mammon would probably be reduced to nothing but ashes.
Of course, the Human Alliance probably didn't have many nuclear weapons left either.
They had used too many during the chaotic years after the dimensional invasion.
Producing more required enormous resources.
Moreover, nuclear weapons were tools that harmed both sides.
Their practical value was far lower than their strategic value.
"Eat them."
After only a moment of thought, Mammon turned away and walked toward his house.
He had no interest in ordinary food.
Nor had he degenerated to the point of feeding on defenseless civilians.
However, feeding these two men to the rat demon and Chen Jun—
He didn't mind that at all.
After all, they were hardly innocent.
Although Mammon's personality was somewhat twisted, he had not completely lost his humanity.
If they had truly been good people, he would not have harmed them.
But clearly—
Mr. Dai and the fat man were not.
Judging by normal moral standards, they were nothing more than human scum.
"Squeak…"
The rat demon slowly stood upright.
Its vertical pupils stared greedily at Mr. Dai and the fat man.
Drool dripped from its mouth full of fangs.
"N-no… please, spare me!"
The fat man turned back and saw the rat demon approaching.
All color drained from his face.
He desperately begged Mammon for mercy.
Mr. Dai, however, maintained more composure than the panicking fat man.
Although his face was pale, he turned his gaze toward Chen Jun, who stood silently nearby.
There was a pleading look in his eyes.
He had always believed he treated Chen Jun well.
Now that Chen Jun had been chosen by Mammon, he was his only hope of survival.
Chen Jun noticed Mr. Dai's expression and frowned deeply.
"Mr. Mammon, I am willing to serve as your most loyal servant."
"Please believe me."
"I will definitely be useful to you."
Seeing Chen Jun's hesitation, Mr. Dai knelt down toward Mammon and spoke sincerely.
He had experienced many storms in life.
He knew that if he wanted to survive now, he had to prove his value.
"My lord, Mr. Dai is a major figure in the underground world of Yang City."
"If he assists you, it will bring great benefit."
Chen Jun also spoke respectfully.
"Yang City…"
Mammon stopped walking.
His eyes flickered slightly.
The town where he currently lived was a remote and declining place under the jurisdiction of Yang City.
If he wanted to develop his power in the future, Yang City—one of the most prosperous cities in Great Xia—would be an excellent starting point.
Moreover, there was something he needed to do there.
Under such circumstances, having a powerful local figure from Yang City as a subordinate could indeed be useful.
"You want to follow me?"
"You want my blood?"
Mammon turned around.
His blood-red pupils stared directly at Mr. Dai.
A man like this was willing to bow his head.
Partly to save his life—
But more importantly for the irresistible temptation.
The temptation to become someone above ordinary people.
"You see clearly, sir."
Mr. Dai took a deep breath and lowered his head respectfully.
If given the chance to become an evolver, how many people would refuse to fight for it?
"My blood can certainly allow you to evolve."
"But the price you pay is losing your humanity."
A mocking smile appeared on Mammon's lips.
He could see clearly what Mr. Dai desired.
He wanted Mammon to turn him into a demon.
Mammon himself might never be able to walk under the sunlight again.
The demons he created certainly could not.
Moreover, once someone became a demon, they would have to consume flesh and blood as energy.
And once a person had tasted human flesh—
They could never stop.
These were the side effects.
Such was human nature.
In order to gain power, people were willing to abandon everything that made them human—
And become monsters.