After setting everything up and confirming there were no mistakes, Orsaga closed his eyes and opened his mind.
The second advancement had begun.
Blood and energy began to seep from within his body on their own, forming threads that wrapped tightly around him.
Moments later, a several-meter-tall blood-red cocoon appeared at the heart of the cave.
A mist of blood spread out from within it, filling the cave before gradually condensing into vein-like structures. Centered around the cocoon, these structures wove an enormous web that stretched across every inch of the cave.
Due to Orsaga's specific instructions, he remained conscious throughout the process. Even though he couldn't move a muscle, his senses stayed fully alert, allowing him to interrupt the advancement at any moment if necessary.
Although he dared not move, afraid it might disrupt the process, he could still vividly feel his skin and exoskeleton dissolving, his flesh boiling, and the bones in his back slowly rearranging themselves.
It felt like his entire body was submerged in concentrated sulfuric acid, with even his soul on the verge of being torn apart. Every part of him was being deconstructed and reforged into a more powerful and perfect form. Only through such agony could Orsaga continue to outpace other demons of the same rank.
Muscle reshaping, skin fusing, bone realignment, soul tearing—these were the torments he now endured.
And this was his second time.
He had already experienced it once when advancing from [juviline Demon] to [minor Demon], and back then, unprepared for the pain, he had nearly passed out. Only then did he understand why demons typically fall into a coma during evolution—it spared them the overwhelming suffering.
The word "slightly" doesn't quite capture it, because Orsaga's evolution wasn't just a matter of his Abyssal nature or bloodline. His evolution system played a role too, making it more like a three-party negotiation than a standard advancement—completely unlike other demons.
But to Orsaga, those details didn't matter.
As long as he could achieve his goals, no amount of pain was too much.
That was why he still chose to evolve consciously.
He needed to maintain control and awareness at all times.
In fact, he saw this intense pain as a form of tempering.
When he had advanced to [minor Demon], the indescribable torment had nearly driven him to collapse—but from that ordeal, he learned something vital: only by experiencing, tasting, and understanding pain could one truly inflict it on others.
So he began to study his suffering carefully, to savor it, and eventually to comprehend it. Perhaps that was also why his magical traits naturally evolved toward [Pain], and why he awakened the bloodline spell [Agonizing Strike].
Maybe one day, he could fully master [Pain], a fundamental negative law on par with [Wrath], [Envy], [Pride], [Greed], [Lust], [Sloth], and [Gluttony].
—
Several nights later, when the blood-red star rose once more outside the cave...
The massive blood-vein network began to rapidly shrivel and collapse.
Whoosh!
Crack!
Two enormous wings, each nearly 3.4 meters long with a wingspan of almost 7 meters, suddenly burst from the cocoon's shell.
A single flap stirred a fiery whirlwind that incinerated everything within the cave.
When all remnants were reduced to ash, Orsaga's newly transformed form emerged from the heart of the flames.
His previously mangled limbs had regenerated—and with them came new changes.
Standing three meters tall, his physique was now perfectly proportioned. Complex crimson markings covered his body. His twin horns had grown longer and thicker, curving backward. His tail now stretched 2.8 meters and could extend or retract to a degree. The wings on his back looked like a hybrid between bat and dragon wings, covered in fine scales with sharp spikes at the tips.
---
[Host]: Vareth Ogarion Xal'Thaz Orsaga
[Race]: Mutated Flame Demon
[Rank]: Lesser Demon
[Strength]: 61 (Base: 5)]
[Speed]: 63 (Base: 5)]
[Constitution]: 61 (Base: 5)]
[Magic Power]: 65 (Base: 5)]
[Soul]: 70 (Base: 5)]
[Talents]:
• Soul Devour Evolution – Evolves through the consumption of souls.
• Slaughter Evolution – Evolves through combat and killing.
• Combat Instinct – Innate mastery of battle.
• Flesh Assimilation – Fingers & Tail (absorbs and extracts essence from flesh contacted)
•Magic Affinity – Corrosion (more corrosive than standard magic)
•Elemental Affinity – Bloodflame (high-temperature flames that burn flesh and life force)]
•Exoskeleton — Bloodthirst (Armored bone shell that can absorb blood to self-repair)
•Energy Vision (Can see energy through most materials)
•Abyssal Contract (Can accept summons and form binding pacts through abyssal power; not even a Demon Prince can break it)
•Stealth – Silence: Greatly reduces presence and aura
•Torment Amplification – Wounds inflicted by you cause exaggerated pain
•Soul Snare – Binds and draws in souls within a set range
•Armament Rune – Crimson – Abyssal runes enhance resistance and adaptability
•Dimensional Projection – Simulacrum – Projects a distant sensory-linked avatar
[Skills]:
Fireball (Bloodline Spell – 27%)
Flame Arrow (Bloodline Spell – 28%)
Life Drain (Bloodline Spell – 25%)
Soul Shock (Bloodline Spell – 30%)
Wail of Agony (Bloodline Spell – 14%)
Flame Nova (Bloodline Spell – 14%)
[Evolution Points: 0]
The innate trait [Torment Amplification] evolved from the earlier bloodline spell [Agonizing Strike], representing Orsaga's deepened understanding of the concept of [Pain].
Meanwhile, traits like [Soul Snare], [Wail of Agony], and [Flame Nova] were spontaneously awakened as his power grew stronger.
A demon, even without formal training in spellcasting, naturally becomes a caster once they reach a certain level—though in most cases, they remain clueless about how the spells actually work.
You could say they're functionally spellcasters, but illiterate.
Only [Crimson] and [Simulacrum] were specially developed through the evolution system at Orsaga's command. These were non-negotiable tools of survival.
Without them, he wouldn't have the confidence to explore other planes.
According to inherited demonic knowledge, otherworldly realms were considered dream destinations by demons. Though filled with danger, they brimmed with opportunity. From low-ranked nobodies to established demonic elites, all aspired to go looting and soul-harvesting in alternate worlds.
It was a bit like the old American Wild West—whether you struck gold or got forced to dig mines at gunpoint depended on luck.
Some demons succeeded. Many more reincarnated early.
And the failures vastly outnumbered the victors.
Still, Orsaga refused to be one of the failures.
Now equipped with basic cross-world travel capabilities, he didn't rush in blindly. Instead, he chose to first adapt to his newfound power.
He stretched his body, then fired a Flame Arrow at the rock obstructing the cave entrance, blasting it open with brute force.
Previously, his Flame Arrow had only been a meter long. Now, it stretched to nearly 1.8 meters—long enough to be used as a spear in human hands.
Though the evolution system's numerical stats showed only a 25% boost, Orsaga's actual combat power had multiplied several times over. His old techniques might not even work the same way anymore.
Stepping out of the cave, he looked up at the occasional flying demon or beast in the sky. Flapping his wings gently, he stirred the air into whirling gusts. After a few experimental lifts, he started to get the hang of flying—relying on wings rather than legs.
Gaining a new organ had thrown off his sense of balance a bit. It felt awkward at first, unfamiliar in both body and mind.
Thankfully, his wings could retract into his body when not in use!
Otherwise, having to fight on the ground while lugging around a pair of oversized wings would've been a huge tactical disadvantage.
What amazed even him was that despite their massive size—each wing nearly as large as his body—they could vanish without a trace when folded in. No bulges, no change in physique. Completely seamless. Purely magical.
Where did all that mass go?
Orsaga hadn't figured that out yet, but chalked it up to demonic absurdity.
He was a demon—why bother with the laws of physics?
Maybe his inherited memories had the answer.
But he didn't really care. It wasn't important.
Kind of like how most people don't worry about why humans can walk—they just do.
Prepared and ready, Orsaga gave a powerful flap of his wings.
A violent gale surged beneath him, launching him into the sky.
As the cliffs below rapidly shrank in his vision, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction welling up from his soul.
It was the primal yearning for the open sky.
And in that moment, it was as if the demon's flying instinct fully awakened.
Flying no longer felt unnatural.
It was as easy and intuitive as walking.
_____
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