CH: 10: Advanced [Lower Demon] And Sky}

{Chapter: 10: Advanced [Lower Demon] And Sky}

After carefully verifying every setting and ensuring everything was in perfect order, Dex finally closed his eyes, allowing his mind to slip into a state of deep focus. He exhaled slowly, surrendering himself to the inevitable transformation that awaited him.

The second advancement had begun.

As if responding to an ancient, primal command, his very essence reacted instinctively. Blood and raw power surged through his body, flowing outward in thick, pulsating streams. His flesh, muscle, and even his demonic exoskeleton began to dissolve, melting away like wax exposed to a raging inferno. But instead of dissipating, the expelled essence coiled around him, forming long, delicate threads of crimson energy. These threads wove together like a masterful tapestry, encasing him in an intricate cocoon of blood and magic.

Before long, the transformation chamber was fully formed—a massive, pulsating structure towering several meters high. The entire cave flickered with an eerie, shifting glow as waves of blood mist poured from the cocoon's surface. The mist slithered along the walls and ceiling before condensing into dark, vein-like tendrils, weaving themselves into an intricate, web-like formation. This grotesque network spread across every inch of the cave, pulsating in sync with an otherworldly rhythm, as if the very space had become a living, breathing organism.

Despite the nightmarish process, Dex remained conscious. He had made sure of it. Unlike other demons, who would slip into a trance-like coma during their evolution, he had given specific commands to the system, ensuring his full awareness throughout. This was his choice—his defiance against the natural order.

But with awareness came agony.

Every inch of his body was undergoing violent deconstruction and reconstruction. His skin and exoskeleton peeled away like rotting bark from an ancient tree, exposing raw muscle beneath. The flesh that remained was boiling, twisting into new shapes, searing his nerves with unbearable intensity. His very bones cracked and shattered, reforming in ways more suitable for his next stage of existence. His spine stretched, his ribs realigned, his skull expanded, and his claws sharpened into weapons far deadlier than before.

Yet, the worst pain of all was the one that could not be seen—the pain that reached beyond the physical realm.

His soul was being torn apart.

Ripped into countless fragments, each one a reflection of his past self, his essence was stripped bare, examined, and reforged in the fires of evolution. It was as if his entire being was laid open to the abyss, judged, and reshaped according to some inscrutable design. Every fiber of his existence screamed in protest, but Dex did not yield.

He had been through this once before.

When he ascended from [Infant Demon] to [Little Demon], he had experienced a similar torment. Back then, unprepared for the agony, he had nearly lost himself. The pain had been so overwhelming that he teetered on the edge of madness, barely holding onto his identity. It was only after enduring that crucible that he truly understood the nature of demons and their growth.

And now, he embraced it.

Pain was not merely suffering—it was knowledge.

Only those who experienced agony firsthand could understand its depths. Only those who truly knew pain could inflict it upon others with precision and mastery. That was why, during his first advancement, his body had instinctively developed the magical trait [Pain], and why he had awakened the powerful blood spell [Pain Strike]. His very existence had become attuned to torment, feeding upon suffering like a predator devouring its prey.

Perhaps, if he could one day fully grasp the essence of [Pain], he would elevate it beyond mere sensation, turning it into a law unto itself—something as fundamental as [Fear], [Hate], [Anger], [Jealousy], [Arrogance], [Greed], [Desire], [Laziness], or [Gluttony].

A force that could reshape reality itself.

---

Several nights passed, and the stars beyond the cave rose once more.

Then, without warning, the blood-red web pulsating throughout the cave began to wither and collapse.

A deafening crack split the silence.

Whoosh!

The cocoon, which had stood like a grotesque monument in the darkness, suddenly burst apart. From within, two massive wings erupted, each spanning nearly seven meters from tip to tip. The force of their emergence sent waves of scorching heat rippling through the cave, reducing everything within to smoldering ash.

As the infernal blaze consumed the remnants of his former shell, Dex emerged from the inferno, his reborn form standing tall and majestic at the center of the scorched cavern.

His body had been fully restored, but it was no longer the same.

He had grown.

Standing at a towering height of three meters, his new form was a masterpiece of demonic evolution. His once-damaged physique had been reforged, sculpted into a perfect blend of power and grace. His skin, once rough and torn, was now covered in a tapestry of intricate scarlet markings, pulsating with energy.

His horns, which had once been small and jagged, had transformed into massive, backward-curving structures, thickened and elongated like the crown of a dark monarch. His tail, now stretching nearly three meters, had become prehensile, its surface covered in segmented plates that allowed for controlled extension and contraction.

Most striking of all were his wings.

They were no longer the crude, tattered appendages of a lesser demon. Instead, they bore the combined traits of both bat and dragon, covered in a fine layer of overlapping scales with razor-sharp spikes lining the edges. Every movement of his wings sent waves of searing heat through the air, creating an oppressive aura of raw, unchecked power.

The transformation was complete.

Dex was no longer the same demon who had entered this cave. He had ascended beyond the limitations of his past self.

And yet, he was only just beginning.

As he flexed his claws and spread his wings, feeling the newfound strength coursing through his veins, a slow, wicked smile crept across his face.

\\

Anton Arcane Garissa Asalon...Neron Orillia Blackheart

Race/Level: Demon Race/Little Demon(Advanced)

Strength: 61 (5)

Endurance: 61 (5)

Speed: 63 (5)

Magic Power: 65 (5)

Soul: 70 (5)

Abilities:

Soul Eater Evolution, Blood Evolution, Combat Instinct, Flesh-Learning, Magic Trait – Corrosion, Magic Trait, Elemental Talent – Bloodflame, Exoskeleton – Bloodthirsty, Energy Vision, Abyssal Pact, Disguise - Silence,

Suffering and Torture

Effect: Any injury, no matter how minor, is amplified into excruciating pain, both physically and mentally, making even the smallest wound unbearable.

Soul Plunder

Effect: Forcefully restrains and pulls the target's soul within a set range, preventing escape or external intervention.

Armed Rune - Scarlet

Effect: The power of the Scarlet Abyss manifests as runes covering your body, forming a protective array. Greatly enhances resistance to various energies, increases adaptability to oppressive environmental forces, and strengthens resilience against external influences.

Cross-Border Projection - Simulacrum

Effect: Allows you to project an avatar over vast distances. The projection possesses sensory functions and shares real-time perception with the user.

Skill:

Fireball (Blood Spell. 27%), Fire Arrow (Blood Spell. 28%), Life Drain (Blood Spell. 25%), Pain Strike (Blood Spell. 29%), Soul Impact (Blood Spell. 30%) Painful Wailing (Blood Spell. 14%), Flame Nova (Blood Spell. 14%)

Evolution point: 0

\\

A demon, even one who does not actively study the arcane arts, will inevitably develop magical abilities as his power grows. It is an inherent aspect of his existence—magic seeps into his being like an unstoppable tide, becoming second nature. Yet, despite this natural affinity, demons are often considered illiterate among true spellcasters, wielding power without truly understanding its inner workings.

Dex was no exception, but his abilities were not solely the result of demonic inheritance. Unlike most demons, whose advancements were dictated by the will of the Abyss, Dex had something unique—his evolution was influenced by an external system, guiding and refining his growth in ways unnatural even to demonkind. Among the many abilities that had emerged from this process, two were indispensable:

[Armed Rune - Scarlet] and [Cross-Boundary Projection - Simulacrum].

These two powers were his ticket to a greater destiny. Without them, he had no confidence in traversing the barriers between worlds.

Through the fragmented knowledge imprinted in his mind—the legacy of demons before him—Dex had come to understand a simple truth: the material planes were a land of opportunity, a place every ambitious demon longed to reach. Despite the dangers that lurked in those realms, they held immense potential for those willing to take the risk. It was akin to the gold rush of the American West from his previous life—some souls wealth, others power, and some simply wished to butcher in endless bloodshed of the Abyss.

But just as many demons who ventured into the material world found success, far more were met with swift and brutal ends. For every demon who conquered and thrived, a dozen more perished, their souls shredded into nothingness, their ambitions lost to the void.

Dex refused to be one of those failures.

Now that he possessed the bare minimum to safely traverse another plane, he resisted the urge to act immediately. Instead, he took a more methodical approach—adjusting to his newfound strength before making the leap.

First, he flexed his limbs, feeling the subtle yet profound changes in his body. His movements were smoother, more controlled, and his muscles carried a latent power that felt ready to explode at a moment's notice.

Next, he tested his magic. Raising his hand, he conjured a simple [Flame Arrow] and sent it hurtling toward the boulder blocking the cave's entrance.

BOOM!

The explosion rocked the cavern, sending dust and debris flying in all directions.

Dex observed the results with satisfaction. The spell had grown noticeably stronger. Previously, his [Flame Arrow] had been little more than a burning projectile, a mere meter in length. Now, it stretched nearly 1.8 meters, pulsing with volatile energy. If a human warrior wielded it, it could serve as a flaming spear rather than just a projectile.

Even though the numerical growth displayed by his evolution system only reflected a modest increase of about 25%, his actual combat potential had skyrocketed. Strength, speed, reaction time—everything had improved several fold. Some of his previous battle techniques might no longer be optimal, requiring him to refine his fighting style.

Stepping out of the cave, Dex gazed upward at the Abyssal sky.

Countless twisted, nightmarish creatures soared above, their screeches echoing through the desolate landscape. Among them, true demons flitted about, their massive wings carrying them effortlessly through the air.

Dex took a deep breath. It was time to test something new.

He unfurled his wings.

A single flap sent a burst of wind surging around him, kicking up dust and loose rocks. He could already tell—the power in these wings was tremendous. The sensation of standing on solid ground while possessing the means to take flight felt... unnatural.

He took a moment to adjust, flexing the new appendages experimentally. An extra organ—especially one as massive as these wings—introduced complications. Balance, movement, combat adaptability... He needed to get used to them quickly.

Luckily, these wings could retract into his body when not in use.

That, in itself, was an enigma. Even folded, they were larger than his entire frame. Yet, when fully retracted, they vanished seamlessly, as if they had never existed. His body neither bulged nor changed shape in any discernible way.

Where did they go?

Dex frowned, attempting to rationalize it. But after a moment, he simply scoffed.

Demon biology was a mystery even to demons. Trying to apply conventional science to it was pointless.

Besides, did it really matter? Just as most humans never stopped to ponder the mechanics of walking, he had no reason to dwell on the mechanics of his wings. What mattered was that they worked.

He took a few steps forward, inhaling the heavy, sulfur-laced air of the Abyss.

"I need to stretch a little," he muttered, flexing his fingers.

Then, with a determined glint in his eyes, he crouched slightly, wings extending.

"Why not?"

With a powerful beat of his wings, the air surged around him, a violent gust tearing across the ground.

And then—

After making his mind and preparations, Dex's wings vigorously vibrated.

The strong wind is surging, and the powerful thrust turns into motivation to push him into the sky.

His eyes closed on their own, and he concentrated on the feel of the wind in his face. Dex raised his arms up, bending his knees slightly, and brought them down sharply, bouncing. His legs literally pushed him into the sky, where his body was already completely free to fly.

The wind roared past his face, whipping against his skin, filling his ears with a deafening rush.

Dex closed his eyes for a brief moment, feeling the sky embrace him.

Higher.

Faster.

Stronger.

He opened his eyes, seeing the night sky approaching him, or rather his body approaching the sky. Looking at the cliffs that are rapidly becoming smaller underneath.

His heart pounded wildly, not from exertion, but from exhilaration.

Dex's heart was beating as if frantically, and the speed of flight only increased. His hands moved forward, clenching into fists. The speed of flight increased even more, and his body broke the sound barrier with a pop.

Instinct took over, guiding his body through the motions. He angled his wings, adjusting his trajectory. It was as if something buried deep within him had awakened. The knowledge of flight—something beyond thought, beyond reason—had been lying dormant within him all along.

At this moment, Dex seemed to feel a burst of satisfaction emerging from the depths of his soul.

That is the desire of creatures for the vast sky!

It was also at this moment that the demon's instinctual ability seemed to wake up from the body, and Dex felt that flying would no longer be difficult for him, just as natural as walking with his feet.

*****

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