First Blood

Pondering the cryptic [Error] on her system panel and the mysterious "1 soul" in her inventory, Roxana couldn't help but wonder, "Did I snag a human sole to land this? Is this the aftermath of possessing someone's body, turning me into an instant felon?" She chuckled at the grim humor of her situation. "So, by stepping into this body, I unknowingly committed my first sin in my second life. No wonder I ended up in hell—evil deeds are apparently my subconscious specialty."

Roxana, newly awakened to her demonic nature and abilities, found herself amidst an astonishing transformation of the landscape around her. The beach, previously a place of solitary revelation, had now become a nursery of chaos as demon eggs, similar to hers, began to crack open in synchrony.

Each egg revealed a creature unique in form and essence. The diversity was staggering—some bore humanoid shapes, reminiscent of mythical beings, while others took on the appearances of beasts or insects, complete with features designed for immediate survival. The colors of their skins varied widely, from dark shades of red and gray to vibrant cyan, painting a vivid tableau of demonic life in its earliest moments.

Roxana watched, her thoughts a whirlwind. The hatching of these demons in such a manner reminded her of a grand, orchestrated event, echoing the natural world's cycles she once knew. However, this was a world apart from any natural order familiar to her; it was a genesis of creatures born from the infernal, each driven by instincts she was only beginning to understand within herself.

Observing the hatchlings instinctively consume their eggshells, Roxana felt a distant echo of her own hunger-driven act. But her contemplation was cut short as she witnessed a stark reality of their existence: survival was not a given but a battle commenced from the moment of birth.

Some of the stronger, more aggressive demons began targeting the unhatched eggs. With crude implements or sheer brute force, they cracked open these sanctuaries of life, mercilessly killing their would-be kin. This act was not driven by malice but a grim instinct to strengthen oneself by absorbing the souls of the unborn.

The beach transformed into a battlefield, underscored by a chilling realization—this was the nature of the demon world. Strength was paramount and existence was perpetually on a knife-edge between predator and prey.

Roxana felt a chill run through her. Her gaze swept across the beach, taking in the sight of the demons reveling in their primal urges. The stark brutality of their actions contrasted sharply with the complex emotions swirling within her. She understood now that her journey of self-discovery was also one of survival, where every decision could mean the difference between life and death.

As Roxana contemplated her precarious situation—whether to engage in the savage act of destroying unhatched eggs or to seek refuge—the air was rent by a screech, a harbinger of imminent danger.

The source, a demon of formidable size, charged toward her with a gaze that mingled curiosity with a predatory desire, eyes aflame with a lust for dominance. This demon, with imposing ram horns, piercing yellow eyes, elongated ears and a hide like solidified lava, bore the terrifying aura of a war deity, an embodiment of death and aggression.

As the demon advanced towards Roxana, a striking detail became apparent in the wake of his destruction. Each lesser demon he dispatched on his path met a peculiar fate; their souls visibly emerged from their bodies, a spectral display of their life force being liberated upon death.

This phenomenon, a grim testament to the brutal reality of their world, highlighted the stark contrast between these fallen demons and their attacker.

The demon pursuing Roxana seemed utterly immune to the typical craving for soul consumption that drove many of their kind to acts of violence. His indifference to the souls floating free of their hosts underscored a focused ferocity and a depth of power that was chilling.

It wasn't just physical strength that set him apart; it was his apparent resistance or disinterest in the immediate gain of consuming souls, suggesting a more complex, perhaps more sinister, nature or a singular obsession with Roxana that overshadowed the usual predatory instincts.

Roxana's fear was palpable, yet she managed to maintain a facade of calm. Trapped in a dire predicament, she quickly realized that her lack of magical knowledge or physical prowess meant she had to rely entirely on her wit and charm to evade the looming threat. The notion of confronting the demon without any supernatural assistance was daunting; it could easily claim her life or consign her to a fate far more dreadful.

As she looked around, she noticed a small ridge with jagged pieces of debris nearby, along with a few scattered shards of rock. Seeing an opportunity, Roxana quickly moved towards it, positioning herself so the oncoming demon wouldn't notice the sharp edges hidden from its view.

As the demon moved closer, Roxana's mind was filled with backup plans, her survival hanging in the balance. Then, as the demon lunged at her, and the edge of the cliff was only inches away, she put her plan into action out of pure survival instinct. With a swift and graceful sidestep, Roxana avoided the attack, her movements quick and precise.

The demon, driven by its own ferocity, failed to stop and collided with the sharp edge. A loud cry echoed as green blood started to flow from a deep wound, staining the ground with the distinct color of demon blood.

In the heat of the moment, Roxana, driven by a surge of adrenaline and the keen edge of survival instinct, grasped a piece of debris, its edges honed to a lethal sharpness by the tumultuous forces of their origin.

With precision born from a deep understanding of the critical points for maximum impact, she directed her strike towards the demon's crotch.

Her physical strength, though lacking, was compensated for by her precise attack's strategic efficacy.

The demon fell, not because of muscle but due to Roxana's quick thinking and smart strategy, showing she'd quickly learned how to navigate this strange new world. As its eyes lost their glow, a soul sprang forth, shining brighter than anything Roxana had ever seen.

This initial soul was more than a marker of Roxana's capacity to adapt and thrive; it signified her defiance against the norm that brute strength ruled the demonic realms. This pivotal moment, highlighted by her first conquest of a soul, signified the real commencement of Roxana's epic journey.