Crack… crack…
As if on cue, countless demon eggs along the banks of the Crimson Vein began to fracture.
Roars and shrieks echoed through the air.
The newly hatched juvenile demons were a chaotic mix: some insect-like, some humanoid, some bestial, and others mere amorphous writhing lumps of flesh.
Instinctively, each let out its first roar before hungrily consuming its eggshell, replenishing its initial nutrients.
Once nourished, their attention turned to the eggs yet to hatch—and to weaker-looking peers nearby. Every demon's instinct screamed the same message: grow stronger—or become food. In the Abyss, failure meant death.
The slaughter had begun.
Driven purely by primal killing instinct, they attacked with claws, fangs, tentacles, and whatever debris they could find. Hunters and prey were indistinguishable; victory was uncertain.
Blood spattered across the riverbank, and the foundational rule of the Abyss was laid bare: slaughter, devour, and consume—everything served as sustenance.
There was no mercy. No compassion. Only the victorious could survive, leaving the rest to feed the riverbank with their demise.
Ol'saga, facing the frenzied attacks of other juveniles, initially suffered some wounds. But the innate demonic instinct honed his combat skills rapidly, turning him into a predator capable of spotting weaknesses and delivering fatal strikes with deadly precision.
With his superior physique and combat prowess, he could tear through heads and bodies with ease. The constant strengthening granted by the Ascension Matrix further widened the gap between him and the others.
His height had surged from 1.4 meters to nearly two, muscles rippling beneath toughened scales, marking him as a towering presence among the smaller juveniles.
After decimating hundreds of demons, he had reached the minimum requirement for advancement to a minor demon. Yet the riverbank was no place for the forced slumber the process demanded; interruption would cause permanent damage. He needed a quiet spot, but none existed here.
Even though the Abyssal Will had granted him the right to leave the riverbank, he lingered. His inherited memories of the layers beyond conveyed one clear truth: the outside world was far more dangerous. For now, he would harvest every soul available.
Ol'saga turned to the Ascension Matrix to increase his efficiency.
Host: Azaroth… Orsaga
Race/Level: Demon / Juvenile Demon (Can Advance)
Strength: 15 (5)
Speed: 17 (5)
Constitution: 16 (5)
Magic Power: 19 (5)
Soul: 22 (5)
Talents: Soul Feast Evolution, Carnage Growth, Combat Instinct
Skills: None
Evolution Points: 2,858
Note: Values in parentheses represent normal levels for newly born juveniles. Each point above increases attributes by one-fifth.
The system did not operate automatically. Ol'saga had divided evolution points: half to strengthen body and soul, half in reserve. He specified targets and methods, and the system listed possible enhancements.
He demanded:
"Most of the flesh and blood is wasted. I need to extract essence efficiently. My magic power is too basic; I need offensive versatility."
The Matrix offered:
Flesh Extraction: Blood Manipulation, Organ Modification (fingers, tail)
Attack Methods: Destructive Magic Amplification, Bloodline Elemental Awakening, Bloodthirsty Slaughter
Ol'saga selected Organ Modification for flesh extraction and both Destructive Magic Amplification and Elemental Awakening for attacks.
Evolution points poured away as his fingertips and tail sprouted black, hardened exoskeletons covered in tiny needle-like pores, capable of drawing essence from flesh and blood. Magic power surged violently, now corrosive and potent enough to burn anything around him.
The Bloodline Elemental Awakening caught him off guard. Pain coursed through every vessel, almost forcing him to his knees. Around him, juvenile demons swarmed, sensing opportunity.
Furious, Ol'saga unleashed a defensive zone of magic, buying precious seconds. Soon, his body adjusted, and his power surged uncontrollably, manifesting as blood-red flames that engulfed everything within a dozen meters.
The flames seeped through pores, eyes, and mouths, consuming the demons from within. In seconds, the juveniles—despite their natural resilience—were incinerated.
Surveying the charred corpses, Ol'saga noted a lesson learned: enhancements were dangerous and should be performed in a safe location. The Matrix only obeyed commands; it offered no guidance.
He retracted the flames, leaving scorched earth and lifeless remains.
"Too wasteful. Until I master control, this power is only for desperate combat."
The celestial body overhead had already descended halfway. The Crimson Vein would soon rise, submerging everything along the bank.
Time was short. Ol'saga resumed harvesting, his speed now unmatched. With his flesh extraction ability, each kill yielded maximum evolution points, leaving only desiccated husks behind.
As the celestial body neared its full descent, the riverbank was nearly cleared. The remaining survivors were the strong, delaying only to harvest souls. All the weak had been eliminated.
Satisfied, Ol'saga surveyed the carnage and, using the authority of the victors, vanished from the riverbank.