The Monster Monarch System-Chapter 254: Zoning In On The Demon

The city of Sorin never truly slept.

Even though the halls of the inn were empty and quiet, the streets outside were alive with movement.

Lanterns flickered, casting dim pools of light onto the cobbled roads, and the distant hum of voices blended with the occasional clatter of metal and the rustling of footsteps.

The night market was in full swing — where merchants thrived in the shadows, selling goods that would never see the light of day.

Rem stood by the window of his room, watching the city breathe beneath the moonlight. His cloak was already draped over his shoulders, his weapons secured.

The others were sleeping soundly — Kiara and Luke in their rooms, and Cairn curled up on the small bed they had set up for him.

But Rem had no intention of staying in tonight.

He exhaled softly before stepping up onto the windowsill.

The inn was three stories high, but that was hardly a concern.

With practiced ease, he leaped out, his body twisting in the air before landing soundlessly onto the tiled rooftop of the next building.

A faint, familiar pulse of energy tugged at his senses.

The demon was out there.

Rem’s eyes narrowed as he focused, recalling the distinct signature he had felt earlier from the flyer distributor.

It was subtle — whoever it was had mastered the art of blending in, masking their presence well enough that most wouldn’t notice. But Rem wasn’t most people.

He moved swiftly, hopping from rooftop to rooftop, avoiding the streets where people gathered. Below him, the city was still bustling.

Shady figures exchanged hushed words in alleys, cloaked merchants showcased rare and likely stolen wares, and those with enough coin indulged in pleasures that only the night could offer.

Sorin was a city of opportunity. If one knew where to look, they could find anything.

And tonight, Rem was looking for something very specific.

His gaze locked onto a figure weaving through the crowd below.

It was the same person who had handed him the flyer earlier that day — a lean man, dressed in a dark robe with a hood drawn low over his face.

But it wasn’t his attire that gave him away.

It was the subtle ripple of demonic energy emanating from him.

Rem followed, keeping his distance.

The man didn’t move like a regular merchant or thief. He walked with purpose, his steps never hesitating, as if he knew exactly where he needed to be.

They moved deeper into the city, past the night market, past the usual gathering spots of pickpockets and gamblers, and toward the less welcoming parts of Sorin — the places where even guards turned a blind eye.

Rem’s muscles tensed. If this was leading to where he thought it was...

The Black Market.

A place where anything could be bought — for the right price.

Weapons, illegal potions, stolen relics, rare materials. And worse.

People.

Rem clenched his fists but kept his composure.

The demon-disguised-as-a-merchant slipped through a narrow entrance between two buildings, vanishing into the shadows.

Rem landed quietly on a nearby rooftop, crouching as he observed the area.

Two guards stood at the entrance. Not city guards — no, these were hired muscle. Their armor was mismatched, but their weapons were sharp, and their eyes were alert.

No doubt they were stationed to keep out anyone who didn’t belong.

Rem had no intention of asking for permission.

With a flicker of movement, he dropped down behind them, his footsteps silent as a whisper. Before either could react, he struck.

A sharp chop to the side of the neck sent the first guard crumpling, unconscious before he hit the ground.

The second barely had time to turn before Rem’s hand clamped over his mouth, his other arm wrapping around his throat in a swift chokehold.

Within seconds, the man slumped, out cold.

Rem dragged both bodies into the shadows before slipping inside.

The air inside was thick with the scent of incense and something else — something metallic.

Blood.

The corridor was dimly lit, lined with flickering torches. Faint murmurs echoed from deeper within, voices discussing deals, bargaining over lives and goods alike.

Rem moved carefully, his footsteps light against the stone floor.

He didn’t have a clear plan yet — he was acting on instinct, following the demonic energy to its source.

And then he heard it.

A voice, smooth and laced with amusement.

"You’ll find that this one is particularly resilient. A rare find."

Rem pressed himself against the wall, peering around the corner.

A makeshift auction room lay ahead, filled with shadowy figures sitting in a semicircle. At the center stood a raised platform, where several cages had been placed.

Inside those cages — people.

Some looked battered, some barely conscious.

And at the very front, standing beside the auctioneer, was the hooded man from earlier. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Rem’s eyes darkened.

He had found his target.

Now, he just had to decide how he was going to handle this.

Rem bent his knees, muscles coiled, breath steady.

His eyes locked onto the demon, the only trace of true malice in the room. There were no others like it nearby, no backup lurking in the shadows. This thing was alone.

That was perfect.

He launched forward without hesitation, closing the distance between them in an instant.

The demon’s eyes widened, hands lifting instinctively as a dark red glow pulsed from its fingers.

Fire ignited — a cursed, demonic flame — but Rem was faster. His fist slammed into the demon’s gut before the flames could reach him.

The creature gasped, its body jerking violently as it doubled over from the sheer force. But its spell had already been cast.

The flames lashed outward, not toward Rem — but toward one of the nearby personnel.

A man dressed in fine robes, likely one of the market’s overseers, had no time to react.

The fire engulfed him instantly, a strangled cry escaping his lips before the heat consumed him whole. His body collapsed in a heap, charred beyond recognition.

The demon barely had time to process what had happened before Rem seized it by the collar.

"No more tricks," Rem muttered.