CH: 04: Advanced [Little Demon]

{Chapter: 04: Advanced [Little Devil]}

After finishing his meal, Dex meticulously tidied up the remains of his opponent. The last thing he wanted was to attract scavengers or opportunistic predators that would disturb his recovery. Though demons thrived on violence, unnecessary battles during a crucial moment of advancement could be fatal.

Using loose gravel and damp mud from the cave floor, he carefully blocked the entrance, ensuring that if anything tried to enter, he would wake up instantly. The crude barricade wouldn't stop a determined enemy, but it would give him a vital moment to react. In the Abyss, every second of preparation could mean the difference between survival and annihilation.

With his defenses secured, Dex turned his attention to what mattered most—his advancement. Lying back into a pit he had dug in the cavern floor, he summoned his system interface, issuing a precise command:

[Upon advancing, use all currently available Evolution Points as the foundation. Prioritize the most optimal integration of Abyssal baptism into my transformation, optimizing my entire body structure and demon bloodline to the highest efficiency possible.

Note 1: Ensure the ability to temporarily halt or exit the transformation if necessary.

Note 2: Optimize physical appearance to align with personal aesthetics—only if it does not hinder strength. If such optimization weakens overall performance, disregard this note. Priority is absolute strength.]

This command was no trivial matter. Dex aimed to leverage the Abyss's natural gift—the baptism that came with advancement—while also maximizing the benefits from his unique evolutionary system.

Most demons lacked control over their transformations. They simply endured the brutal process, letting the Abyss decide their fate. But Dex sought to turn this into a calculated gamble, exploiting the Abyss's overwhelming power while ensuring that not a single drop of its gift was wasted.

The first note was particularly important. He had learned from past mistakes—being immobilized mid-transformation would be disastrous. If an enemy attacked at the wrong moment, he needed the ability to pause the process and fight back.

The second note was a matter of personal preference. Though he was a demon, he still retained an instinctive sense of aesthetics. He didn't want to become some grotesque, misshapen beast unless such a form granted overwhelming power. If maintaining a humanoid appearance weakened him, then strength would take priority.

With his preparations complete, Dex let his consciousness drift into a deep state of slumber.

The Baptism of the Abyss Begins.

A pulse of unimaginable power surged through the darkness. The will of the Bottomless Abyss transcended countless layers of abyss, piercing through barriers to reach him. It embraced him, suffusing every fiber of his being, igniting his very soul in a baptism of destruction and rebirth.

Within the depths of his mind, visions exploded—countless demons, each more monstrous than the last. These were the branching paths of evolution, the possible destinies his body could take. He saw grotesque, bloated horrors dripping with corrosive bile, beasts wreathed in infernal flames, titanic warlords clad in abyssal iron. The choices were endless.

For most demons, advancement was determined by instinct and raw power. Their options were limited, dictated by their bloodline and accumulated strength. The stronger a demon, the greater their potential paths.

Ordinary young demons could barely scrape together the 15 points necessary for advancement. Dex, however, had shattered that limit. His power had surpassed 25 points, an overwhelming achievement that granted him access to an evolution selection far beyond what most demons could dream of.

This was the reward for his brutality—the price he had paid in blood. On the banks of the Styx River, he had slaughtered countless rivals, proving himself as the undisputed apex predator of his generation. The Abyss had taken notice. It rewarded cruelty. It rewarded power.

Unlike weaker demons who had only a handful of evolutionary paths, Dex had dozens. The possibilities stretched before him, each promising new strengths and abilities.

After careful deliberation, he made his choice.

[Mutated Balor]

The decision was not random. Dex's demonic bloodline had already aligned with the fire element, but unlike normal flames, his was a mutation—Bloodfire. This unique attribute gave him an immense advantage in both aggression and growth. A normal Balor would be a terrifying force, but a mutated version? The potential was boundless.

As the selection was finalized, the true transformation began.

The Abyssal baptism surged through his body like an unrelenting inferno.

The power of the Bottomless Abyss reshaped him at the most fundamental level, tearing apart his old self and reconstructing him anew. His muscles swelled, bones cracked and reformed, his very blood boiled with unholy energy.

But this time, something was different.

The Evolution System intervened.

Normally, even the strongest demons could not absorb all the energy granted by the Abyss. Much of it was lost, wasted in the chaotic process of evolution. But Dex's system prevented this.

Like a master sculptor refining a raw gemstone, the system ensured that every ounce of abyssal power was used to its fullest. Energy that would have been discarded was repurposed, every mutation precisely optimized for maximum efficiency.

Even the Abyss itself did not reject this process. It saw this refinement as nothing more than an extension of Dex's own will. And in the Abyss, will was power.

A massive black-red cocoon formed around him, swirling with infernal energy. For hours, the cave trembled, saturated with the scent of sulfur and raw magic.

Then, the cocoon shattered.

A towering figure emerged.

Dex had ascended.

Standing at an imposing 2.4 meters, his new form radiated an overwhelming aura of strength and malevolence. His once serpentine scales had transformed into a sleek, obsidian-like exoskeleton, granting both flexibility and armor-like durability. His physique was perfectly proportioned—neither too bulky nor too lean, every muscle sculpted to perfection, optimized for speed and power.

The once-uniform blood-red hue of his eyes had changed. Twin golden slits now gleamed within them, burning with an intensity that could pierce into one's soul.

His teeth had elongated—razor-sharp, jagged fangs designed for tearing through flesh and bone. His claws, infused with abyssal fire, pulsed with raw destructive energy.

Two demonic horns curved backward from his skull, thick and ridged, each over twenty centimeters long. Unlike before, his hair had grown, cascading in scarlet waves down to his shoulders, giving him a regal yet untamed presence.

As he flexed his fingers, a surge of heat crackled through the air. The Bloodfire within him had intensified, becoming an extension of his very being.

He was no longer a mere young demon.

He had become far greater than before.

The cave walls bore scorch marks from his mere presence, and the lingering aura of abyssal energy made the very air tremble beneath his feet.

The fingers on both his hands and feet had changed, increasing from three to five, making them more human-like in appearance. They were not only more powerful but also much more dexterous. He flexed them experimentally, feeling the raw strength within his grip, the tension in his fingers as his sharp nails extended and retracted at will. These were claws designed to rip and tear.

His tail had undergone a significant transformation as well. Originally short and somewhat stubby, it had now grown into a long, sinuous appendage measuring nearly one meter and seventy centimeters. It was lined with small barbs, giving it a more menacing and lethal appearance. The shape bore a striking resemblance to the alien tails from science fiction movies—thin yet impossibly strong, built for both balance and combat. He swayed it experimentally, feeling its newfound flexibility as it coiled and uncoiled with ease.

A deep, primal hunger stirred within him, not for food but for destruction. He could feel the power coursing through every fiber of his being, his body no longer that of a fledgling demon but something far more refined. His tongue, long and forked like a serpent's, flicked out to wet his lips. The cave air tasted different now—thicker, richer with the scent of the abyss. His senses had sharpened. Every sound in the distance, the rustling of creatures moving in the darkness, the faint echoes of distant howls, all became as clear as if they were happening right next to him.

Dex exhaled slowly, his breath emerging as a thick, heated mist. It looked almost as if he were breathing fire.

His evolution had succeeded.

And now, it was time to test the extent of his newfound strength.

A sudden thought struck him. His expression darkened with a hint of panic as he quickly glanced down at his crotch. A few moments of anxious searching later, he let out a deep sigh of relief.

My precious…

It was still there.

Though the absence of clothing made the cold all the more noticeable, at least he hadn't lost what mattered. That was the important thing.

Lucky! If my gender had changed, that would have been a nightmare. The idea of suddenly becoming female, considering my past life's memories as a straight male, was horrifying enough. But then another thought struck me—one even worse.

Given that demons hatched from eggs, if I had become female, wouldn't that mean… he would have to lay eggs?

Dex shuddered violently. Hell no! That's a scene I never want to imagine.

He quickly shook his head, dispelling the disturbing thought. Now that he was safe and not surrounded by immediate danger, it was time to sort out his memories. His mind was still a chaotic mess, and he needed to gather himself.

Memories of his past life surfaced.

There wasn't anything particularly special about him before all this. He had grown up in a peaceful era, living an average, mundane life. After graduating from university, he had worked tirelessly in the city, trying to scrape by and pay off an absurdly expensive mortgage. His hobbies were simple: gaming, reading novels, watching anime, and indulging in the occasional night of barbecue and drinks with friends whenever finances allowed.

He had once envisioned a life of ease, a future where comfort and ambition intertwined. Adversity never broke him; instead, he found ways to savor its challenges. His grand aspiration? A sprawling six-hundred-square-meter home—a stage where he could weave his charm, seducing a stunning woman to share both the mortgage and the pleasures within. He had already set his sights on a few promising targets, each one a step toward the life he once craved.

If one thought about it this way, Dex was actually quite ordinary. But that was all in the past. The only thing that was commendable about him would probably be the last few pieces of memory he had.

A lady and a little girl . When he was crossing the zebra crossing at the crossroad, a girl age of twelve or thirteen was walking and playing a game on her mobile phone at the same time. Her mother was pulling her arm, lecturing her, and they failed to pay attention to the traffic. Right at this moment, a car sped through the red light.

Its driver might have been hired gun or drunk or something. Roy saw it and had the chance to dodge, but that mother and daughter did not realize it.

Dex had seen it.

He had the chance to dodge, to save himself.

Instead, he had moved without thinking—acting purely on instinct. He had pushed them out of the way. Then came the impact, the sensation of his body flying through the air, the searing pain, the cold creeping in…

And then nothing.

That had been the end of him.

Dex sighed, rubbing his temples. There was no point in questioning how he ended up here, in the Abyss, reborn as a demon. Transmigration and reincarnation were common enough concepts.

The young people of today would be embarrassed to chat with others if they did not know terms such as transmigration and rebirth.

He didn't regret his decision to save them. Who would stop to weigh the consequences in the face of saving a life? Humans could live mundane lives for decades, but sometimes, a single moment of heroism was enough to define them.

His only regret was his parents. They were probably devastated. The thought of their grief filled him with sorrow, a deep ache in his chest.

But that was his past. He couldn't change it.

After a brief moment of mourning, Dex exhaled and focused on the present. He had been given a new life—one full of potential.

And now, it was time to plan his future.

He examined himself once more. His body felt lighter yet more powerful than ever. Strength surged through his muscles, a raw, untamed energy that made him feel as if he could punch through solid rock. His demon blood was boiling with newfound potential.

But he had to stay grounded.

Outside of the Wailing Forest, there were creatures far more terrifying than him. No matter how powerful he felt, he was still just a young demon. Getting cocky would only get him killed.

He needed to understand his standing in the demon hierarchy.

According to the memories inherited from his bloodline, the ranks of demons were as follows:

[Juvenile Demon] → [Little Demon] → [Lesser Demon] → [Middle Demon] → [Greater Demon] → [Demon Lord] → [Demon Prince]

The final rank, [The Demon Prince], was also referred to as the [The Prince of The Abyss] of the Abyss—a title granted only to those demons who stood directly beneath the will of the Abyss itself. They were its chosen, its favored children.

There were eight ranks in total. Right now, Dex was only at the second.

The road ahead is long.

His initial excitement settled into cold determination. He clenched his fists.

He would climb higher.

He would grow stronger.

And one day, he would carve his name into the very fabric of the Abyss itself.

Eight ranks, Dex is only the second rank now, so he understands that the road is still a long way away, so he condensed the excitement in his heart, and planned his future journey.

\\

Anton Arcane Garissa Asalon...Neron Orillia Blackheart

Race/Level: Demon Race/Little Demon

Strength: 40 (5)

Endurance: 37 (5)

Speed: 39 (5)

Magic Power: 41 (5)

Soul: 42 (5)

Abilities:

Soul Eater Evolution, Blood Evolution, Combat Instinct

Flesh-Learning – By making direct contact with a target, you instantly assimilate their knowledge and abilities. Touching flesh and blood allows you to extract their very essence.

Magic Trait – Corrosion – Your magic carries an innate corrosive force, eroding anything it touches.

Magic Trait – Agonizing Pain – Unlike ordinary magic, your attacks inflict unbearable pain, tormenting the target beyond physical damage.

Elemental Talent – Bloodflame – Your flames burn not just the body but consume life energy and even scar the soul itself, leaving lingering agony.

Exoskeleton – Bloodthirst – Your hardened scales grant extreme physical durability and energy resistance. They absorb spilled blood to restore magic power and autonomously repair damage.

Energy Vision – Your sight pierces most materials, revealing hidden energy flows and magical structures.

Abyssal Pact – You wield the power to accept summons at will and forge unbreakable contracts through the Abyss itself. Not even the will of a Devil Prince can shatter a pact made with you.

Skill:

Fireball (Blood Spell.10%), Fire Arrow (Blood Spell.10%), Life Drain (Blood Spell.10%), Pain Strike (Blood Spell.10%), Soul Impact (Blood Spell.10 %)

Evolution point: 0

[Note: The numbers in parentheses under "Body" and "Soul" represent the strength level of a newborn demon. Every additional point increases the current strength by 20% (one-fifth). For example, a strength of 6 is 20% stronger than 5, and a strength of 7 is 20% stronger than 6.

In the "Skills" column, the percentage next to a skill represents its proficiency. Once it reaches 100%, the skill will evolve into a more advanced version.

\\

Looking at his own data, Dex nodded in satisfaction.

Although his net worth was essentially "gone," meaning it had been reset or restructured, the upgrades to his body made up for any perceived loss. In a way, it was like swapping out an old, worn-out shotgun for a state-of-the-art, custom-built weapon. The difference in power was undeniable.

According to the information recorded by the evolutionary system, the transformation process had gone exceptionally well. If not for the Abyss baptizing most of the energy from his evolution, he would never have reached this level so quickly. The Abyss had a way of tempering her children, ensuring that power did not come freely. But even with this restriction, the raw improvement was staggering.

His original abilities had not only been strengthened but also refined, becoming sharper and more efficient. On top of that, new traits had emerged—his exoskeleton had undergone further reinforcement, his bloodlust had deepened, his vision now allowed him to perceive energy sources with stunning clarity, and, most importantly, he had gained access to the Abyss Contract.

This was not a minor improvement. The Abyss Contract was one of the most defining abilities of demonkind, the unshakable foundation upon which all demons built their power. Without understanding and wielding it, a demon was nothing more than a nameless brute, a wild beast wandering the Abyss without purpose.

No being could dare call itself a true demon without mastering this sacred covenant. It was an immutable law, a force woven into the very fabric of their existence. Just as Devils were bound by their infernal pacts, so too were demons shackled to the will of the Abyss. To be ignorant of the Abyss Contract was to be a nameless wretch, unworthy of the blood that ran through demonic veins.

You don't even know the Abyss Contract? How could one even think of visiting other worlds and making "friendly" visits?

As for the new skills that had appeared in his repertoire, they had nothing to do with the system. These were innate spells, abilities automatically awakened when a demon's bloodline and strength reached a certain threshold.

Unlike learned magic, which often required years of study and practice, these abilities came prepackaged with a certain degree of proficiency. They weren't immediately perfected, but they were already instinctual—almost as if they had always been a part of him, merely waiting to be unlocked.

What's more, due to his blood magic affinity, all of his spells were now instantaneous. As long as he had the necessary magic power, he could cast them freely, without the burden of incantations or cooldown periods. This was a terrifying advantage.

Before his awakening, Dex had been able to crudely manipulate blood flame, shaping it into crude fireballs or elongated projectiles resembling rockets. However, they were nothing more than rough imitations—hollow imitations of true spells, lacking precision, depth, or destructive capability. Now, however, his fireblood magic had evolved. His flames carried true purpose—every spell honed, efficient, and high in its execution.

This transformation was nothing short of revolutionary.

Additionally, Dex could feel a strange new connection to magic itself. It was as if a door had been thrown open in his mind, allowing him to perceive magic in ways he never had before. His instincts told him that if he learned other spells, he would be able to add them to his personal arsenal.

And once a spell entered his skill bar, it would no longer be subject to human limitations. There would be no risk of spell failure, no need for extensive practice or memorization. If he could cast a spell once, that was all it took. From that moment onward, the spell was his forever—engraved into his very essence, a permanent addition to his growing power.

His potential was limitless.

The realization sent a surge of excitement through his veins. This was only the beginning.

*****

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