The vicious cruelty of a demon fused with a fragment of human rationality—this combination formed Orlusa's soul.
Though his rationality had been thoroughly tainted by demonic instinct, it allowed him to maintain a cunning edge amid his ferocity. Unlike most demons who let muscles dictate thought, Orlusa's brain dictated his muscles.
This didn't mean he would hesitate to fight. Every demon born on the banks of the River Styx had to kill hundreds of its own kind. The cowardly, weak, and insufficiently brutal were long since consumed by others, leaving no chance to escape the riverbank alive.
For Orlusa, risking his life was acceptable if the benefits justified it. Life itself is a gamble—whether human or demon, existence requires risk. The Abyss made this principle absolute.
But risk without reward was foolish. Either the temptation must be immense, or he must have confidence. When confidence was present, Orlusa struck.
As he prowled through the Howling Forest, Orlusa maintained his diligence. Every living being he encountered—passing by, hiding, or feigning death—was tested. None survived. His actions fulfilled the most basic code of a demon: convert prey into evolution points, eliminating regrets and purifying the forest in his own way.
His sharp gaze detected movement ahead. Despite obstacles, a life form was approaching—its energy intensity comparable to his own. Under ordinary circumstances, their strengths would be similar.
But Orlusa was no ordinary demon. Thanks to the Ascension Matrix, his actual combat power surpassed that of demons of equivalent quality. Yet he remained cautious; the Abyss was full of unpredictable anomalies. Mutated demons, energy suppression, or unknown abilities could always be a threat.
He coiled his power within, tail flicking with anticipation.
The creature accelerated as it drew near.
Whoosh!
Crack!
A massive demonic plant, several dozen meters tall, split midsection in front of Orlusa. A wooden spear, sharp and 1.4 meters long, shot out at his chest with deadly speed.
Orlusa didn't meet it head-on. He sidestepped effortlessly, conserving energy and avoiding potential toxins.
Thud, thud, thud…
Through the dust and flying debris, the opponent emerged: a hybrid demonic creature. Its upper body was humanoid with a reindeer-like head, antlers adorned with the eyeballs of fresh kills. Its lower body resembled a warhorse, muscled and powerful, with several spears strapped across its back.
Sniffing its aura, Orlusa recognized something familiar. A spark of excitement lit his blood-red eyes as memories from the Ascension Matrix flashed: this creature possessed a rare [Transformation Ritual]—a stored magical essence capable of altering its bloodline.
"A mutated demonic creature trying to become a half-demon?" Orlusa murmured in a hoarse, demonic tongue. "Intelligent, with inherited memories… A rare specimen indeed."
This was the first time he had spoken to another creature. Lesser demons lacked the intelligence to communicate meaningfully, acting purely on instinct. This opponent was different. Its eyes glimmered with cunning, and the aura of the [Transformation Ritual] confirmed a high level of intelligence and self-awareness.
Ordinary demons might covet the essence within the ritual for bloodline purification, but Orlusa had no need to integrate inferior power. His bloodline, strengthened by the Ascension Matrix, already surpassed demons of this rank. Consuming this creature and harvesting its essence would yield vast evolution points, far more than a normal [Lesser Demon].
Both recognized opportunity. Peaceful coexistence was impossible. Only blood and souls mattered.
The hybrid demon struck first. Muscles bulging, it thrust its wooden spear with brutal force, the sound breaking the air like a sonic boom.
Orlusa countered with precision, firing three Flame Arrows almost simultaneously. Two collided with the spear mid-air, detonating in a massive explosion that incinerated surrounding wood and earth. The third arrow shot straight for the creature's head.
The opponent struggled, attempting to block and redirect the Flame Arrow using a magical shockwave. But Orlusa had anticipated this. The arrow's [Penetration] property pierced its defenses, detonating with catastrophic force.
The hybrid demon was engulfed in a violent explosion. Pain erupted in its skull as blood and brain matter sprayed uncontrollably from its eyes, mouth, nostrils, and ears. Its body convulsed under the overwhelming onslaught.
Orlusa remained calm, observing the creature's imminent demise. His evolution points were ready to be claimed.
Ascension Matrix Update: [+550 Evolution Points]
The Howling Forest was dangerous and unpredictable, but Orlusa's calculated brutality ensured his survival and growth. Each intelligent prey, each rare ritual, increased his power.
He continued moving forward, tail swishing, eyes scanning, ready for the next opportunity.