The Demonbone Forest—one of the fixed teleportation nodes on the banks of the Stygian River.
This was the beginner point for Juvenile demons. Most demons here were classified as Minor demon, creatures that, in the hierarchy of the Abyss, were equivalent to cannon fodder, livestock, or walking rations.
The strongest demon in this zone would barely qualify as a Lesser Demon. Anything that advanced beyond that threshold would be forcibly expelled and thrust into the true Abyss—where one truly lived free and died at random.
With a flash of light, Orsaga materialized in the forest. The first thing that hit him was an overwhelming stench—a sickening, bloody rot that smelled like countless corpses fermenting over time. Even with a demon's dulled sense of smell, it was nearly unbearable. A human would pass out instantly from the odor alone.
Once he steadied himself, Orsaga instinctively understood—thanks to the inherited knowledge of his demonic lineage—that he had to move quickly. The teleportation flare just now was basically a dinner bell to the predators lurking in the forest. Newly spawned demons that had just left the riverbank were at the very bottom of the food chain here.
This brief entry period into the forest was when Juvenile demons had the highest mortality rate.
---
[Host]: Vareth Ogarion Xal'Thaz Orsaga
[Race]: Demon
[Rank]:Juvenile Demon (Ready to evolve)
[Strength: 25 (5)]
[Speed: 25 (5)]
[Constitution: 25 (5)]
[Magic: 25 (5)]
[Soul: 25 (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)]
[Skills: None]
[Evolution Points: 6755]
All of Orsaga's stats had already reached the maximum limits for a juviline demon!
---
He surveyed his surroundings. Compared to the rocky banks of the Stygian River, this place was a swampy mire, overgrown with all manner of demonic flora.
Ordinary plants couldn't survive in the Abyss. Here, vegetation not only absorbed ambient energy to nourish itself—it also attacked. Many plants actively hunted. Even those that didn't could still digest flesh, as all flora in the Abyss had been nurtured with demon blood. They inherited the carnivorous instincts embedded in demonic bloodlines. Even the most inconspicuous weeds could rot flesh to the bone.
Choosing a direction, Orsaga began moving forward. As he stepped into the undergrowth, the lingering stench of countless demons he had torn apart on the riverbank seemed to attract swarms of blood-hungry insects. They buzzed incessantly around him, eager to lap at the still-wet blood clinging to his body—and maybe even tear off chunks of flesh.
Frowning at the pests, Orsaga instinctively wanted to exterminate them. But reason quickly prevailed.
There were simply too many. Like bacteria, they were virtually endless.
So he compromised—letting a layer of Bloodflame rise across his skin, burning away the blood residue. The stench remained, but at least the bugs backed off.
---
After driving off the swarm, he continued deeper. Along the way, he saw several groups of demons locked in vicious combat.
But Orsaga ignored them. He had no time to waste—he needed to evolve as soon as possible. In a place where even Imps were considered the "norm," a juviline Demon like him stood out like a sore thumb.
Eventually, he stopped at a cave nestled between several large rocks. The terrain was ideal for his plans.
Thanks to his elemental bloodline awakening, his senses far exceeded those of typical demons. Combined with his high soul stat, Orsaga could clearly sense a demon inside—roughly the strength of a Minor Demon.
But he wasn't worried.
Though the creature ranked higher than him, rank didn't equate to power. His physical stats had long exceeded 15—the minimum needed to evolve. He had only delayed the transformation for lack of a safe location.
The demon inside was bottom-tier as far as Minor Demons went. Orsaga didn't even consider it a threat.
As he approached, the creature—a monkey-like demon with a scorpion's tail—sensed him and peered out from the cave entrance with wary eyes.
Orsaga wasn't surprised. He hadn't planned a sneak attack anyway. Besides, there wasn't much cover in the area. Unlike the mostly instinct-driven juviline demons, Minor Demons had evolved past beast-level intellect. They possessed a certain degree of cunning and, thanks to their inherited knowledge, even basic skill sets.
This was why the demon race could remain strong—perhaps even grow stronger—despite constant infighting, random destruction, and reckless expansion. Abyssal inheritance allowed them to bypass the need for civilization, collaboration, or innovation.
So long as they had the strength, they could excavate the knowledge buried in their blood—or simply appease the Abyss itself through slaughter and destruction, gaining what other races could only dream of.
Still, due to their violent nature, demons seldom delved deep into learning. They preferred claws and brute force. After all, what fun was research compared to tearing an enemy apart?
The demon in the cave, for instance, already knew how to lay traps—but was too lazy to bother. It simply fought whatever came its way. Win, and you devour your opponent. Lose, and you become the victor's meal.
Just like the cave's previous owner, who this monkey demon had killed and eaten to evolve.
Now, as it gazed at Orsaga, it sensed he was still a juviline—hadn't yet undergone his first transformation—but the sheer pressure from Orsaga's robust physique made it feel a creeping, deadly threat.
Normally, a demon with intelligence wouldn't take risks without good reason. Killing intent didn't mean stupidity. Without sufficient benefit, they weren't about to risk their lives.
But the rich, vibrant blood aroma emanating from Orsaga's body… it was intoxicating. That vitality—it hinted at immense gains. It hesitated.
But Orsaga didn't give it more time to think. Noticing its reluctance, he grinned wickedly.
Magic surged through his body. With a burst of strength, he stomped the ground, launching himself forward like a spring-loaded predator.
The monkey demon snarled and met the charge head-on, its body igniting with crimson flames. Dropping to all fours, it lunged like a wild beast.
Both were empowered by magic. Their brute strength rivaled that of rampaging elephants—and now, it surged even further.
BOOM!!
The impact was thunderous. Dust exploded into the air from the force of their collision.
Orsaga could feel it—his corrosive magic was eating away at the demon's defenses. The shoulder-scale of his opponent cracked open, oozing blood.
He grinned wider.
No hesitation. He gathered his power and swung his arm like a hammer, slamming the demon's skull with a blow that echoed like a gunshot. Blood streamed from its eyes—it was stunned and paralyzed.
Taking advantage of the moment, Orsaga slashed open the creature's wound and drove Bloodflame into its flesh—flames that consumed life itself.
Screaming in agony and facing death, the demon tore itself free, unleashing all its remaining power in a desperate attempt to counter the invasive Bloodflame. It summoned its own fire-elemental magic—an ability awakened upon evolving into a Minor Demon.
But its flames were weaker than Orsaga's.
Retreating a few steps, Orsaga let the Bloodflame continue its work. He circled the battlefield, cutting off escape routes, acting like a wolf watching its prey bleed out.
Soon, the monkey demon's magic was exhausted. The flames surged uncontested, spewing from its mouth and eyes. Life left its body—it had become the first Minor Demon to die at Orsaga's hands.
He stepped up to the smoldering corpse, ignoring the grotesque claw marks it had scratched into the dirt in its final agony.
Reaching out, Orsaga grabbed its writhing, hate-filled soul—and with a satisfied smile, devoured it whole.
Mmm….
Compared to juviline demons, the texture was meatier—and far more delicious.
[System: Evolution Points +254]
Since his physical and soul stats had already maxed out, the evolution points were not consumed and were stored instead—equivalent to more than ten juviline demons' worth of soul energy.