{Chapter 03: Wailing Forest}
Wailing Forest – A Novice's Hunting Ground
The Wailing Forest, one of the fixed teleportation points along the banks of the Styx River, was an infamous training ground for fledgling demons. It was where the weakest of their kind were tossed into the meat grinder of the Abyss, left to fend for themselves against a world that neither nurtured nor forgive weakness.
For a Novice Demon, this place was both a proving ground and a graveyard. The dominant lifeforms here were primarily [Little Demons]—creatures whose status in the Bottomless Abyss was equivalent to livestock, cannon fodder, or simply walking food.
The most powerful inhabitants of this cursed land barely reached the level of [Lower Demon]. Any demon surpassing that threshold would be forcibly expelled, cast deeper into the true Abyss, where only the strong lived freely—and died randomly.
A burst of light flared through the shadows.
A teleportation halo flashed, illuminating the twisted landscape for a fleeting moment before fading into nothingness. Dex materialized in the middle of it all, his feet sinking slightly into the damp, fetid earth.
The first thing that assaulted his senses was the overwhelming stench. A sickening blend of rotting flesh, sour blood, and the acrid tang of decay filled the air, as if countless corpses had been left to fester for eons. Even as a demon, Dex found the scent revolting. If a human were to inhale this, they would likely collapse into unconsciousness within seconds.
He remained still for a moment, allowing his instincts to adjust.
From the knowledge inherited through his demonic bloodline, Dex understood one critical fact: He needed to move. Immediately.
The teleportation beacon he had just used had not gone unnoticed. To many demons lurking in the shadows, the flickering light was no different from a dinner bell ringing in the dark. A freshly arrived juvenile demon, untested and vulnerable, was nothing more than a free meal.
For the young demons emerging from the riverbank, the Wailing Forest was an unforgiving arena where only the cunning survived. The moment of arrival was when their mortality rate was at its highest.
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Anton Arcane Garissa Asalon… Neron Orillia Blackheart
Race/Level: Demon / Juvenile Demon (Advanced)
Strength: 25 (5)
Endurance: 25 (5)
Speed: 25 (5)
Magic Power: 25 (5)
Soul: 25 (5)
Abilities:
Soul Eater Evolution, Blood Evolution, Combat Instinct
Skills: None
Evolution Points: 6,755
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His base stats had already reached the peak of what an infant demon could achieve. The next step would be advancing into a Little Demon—but that transition required caution.
Dex scanned his surroundings.
Compared to the rocky shores of the Styx River, the Wailing Forest was a swamp of corruption. The ground was covered in thick layers of silt, and gnarled, unnatural plants sprouted in chaotic clusters.
No ordinary vegetation could survive in the Bottomless Abyss. The flora here didn't just absorb nutrients from the soil—they devoured. Some plants preyed on living creatures outright, their vines snapping like whips to snare unsuspecting demons. Others simply lay in wait, digesting whatever carrion fell at their roots.
Even the most unassuming weeds here possessed the ability to rot flesh.
Generations of demonic blood had seeped into the earth, feeding this nightmarish ecosystem. The instinct for bloodlust was so deeply ingrained that even the smallest organisms carried it in their essence.
Dex moved cautiously, navigating the terrain with fluid strides.
The moment he stepped into the dense underbrush, a new problem arose.
A low buzzing sound filled the air.
Bloodthirsty flies—dozens of them—began to swarm around him. Drawn by the lingering scent of blood from his massacre at the riverbank, they hovered in a restless, frenzied dance, desperate to drink the remnants that clung to his skin. Some even attempted to bite through his scales, eager for a piece of flesh.
Dex's expression darkened.
These pests were relentless. Killing them all would be an exercise in futility—their numbers were endless, multiplying like microbes in the filth of the Abyss.
Instead of wasting energy, he adopted a simple solution.
A thin layer of bloodfire ignited across his body, burning away the congealed gore and drying his skin of any lingering traces. The flies recoiled instantly, their bodies unable to withstand the hellish heat. Though the stench of blood still clung to him, it was no longer fresh enough to keep them interested.
With the distraction handled, Dex pressed onward.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, the sounds of battle echoed around him. He passed by several demons engaged in vicious skirmishes, their snarls and guttural growls filling the air. However, he paid them no mind.
A Juvenile Demon stood out too much in a place where even Little Demons were considered weak.
His priority was advancement.
After some time, Dex finally found what he was looking for.
Nestled between several large boulders was the entrance to a cave. It was deep, narrow, and partially concealed by jagged rock formations. The geographic location was ideal—secluded enough to avoid unnecessary conflicts, yet defensible against potential intruders.
But he wasn't alone.
The moment he approached, Dex's elemental bloodline trembled slightly, alerting him to the presence of another demon within. Its aura was weak, but unmistakably higher than that of an ordinary Little Demon.
With the awakening of the elemental bloodline, he can feel that there is a demon hidden in it, and his strength is barely reaching the level of a little demon.
Dex wasn't intimidated
However, even though the opponent's rank is higher than Dex, he is not afraid, because rank does not represent an absolute difference in strength. After the average physical fitness reaches 15 points, he can already advance, just because there is no safety. The demon inside was just the bottom of the little demon, and he hadn't paid attention to it.
As he took a step forward, movement flickered in the darkness.
A creature with the physique of an ape but the tail of a scorpion emerged from the shadows. Its eyes, narrow and calculating, fixed on Dex with obvious wariness.
This reaction didn't surprise him.
Unlike the mindless Juvenile Demons, Little Demons had already developed some level of intelligence. They had long abandoned the simple instincts of beasts and understood the value of strategy.
Dex remained still, gauging his opponent's reaction.
The Abyss thrived on violence, yet demons weren't suicidal. This creature knew that despite its higher rank, attacking a determined foe without absolute certainty was a risk.
For now, it watched.
Dex smirked slightly.
He wasn't in a hurry. The Wailing Forest was just another trial. Here, power wasn't just measured in strength—it was measured in survival.
And he had no intention of dying here.
The demonic race was unlike any other.
Unlike mortals, who built civilizations and advanced through collective knowledge, demons didn't need to evolve intellectually. Their knowledge was inherited.
From the moment of their birth, they possessed an instinctual understanding of the Abyss. They didn't need structured societies or written histories. They didn't need peace, diplomacy, or cooperation.
Their only truth was chaos.
Kill. Devour. Evolve.
This was how the Abyss remained strong.
This is also the reason why the demon race—much like some of the most powerful races in the multiverse—thrives despite having no reasonable system of governance. They are constantly killing each other, endlessly self-destructing, expanding outward without restraint, and waging war without end. And yet, paradoxically, they only grow stronger. No civilization, no cooperation, no intricate planning—just pure chaos and slaughter, and still, they endure.
The inheritance from the Abyss allows demons to bypass centuries of accumulated knowledge that other races must painstakingly develop. They do not need scholars, sages, or archives of wisdom. Their instincts, sharpened by generations of carnage, are enough. If a demon is strong enough, it can continuously unearth the knowledge buried deep in its blood, drawing upon the Abyss's dark whispers for enlightenment. For those who seek power, endless battle is the only necessary teacher.
Through slaughter and destruction, they entertain the Abyss's will, and in return, they are rewarded with knowledge most races could only dream of. However, the savage nature of demons ensures that they do not study this knowledge as mortals would. They do not refine it, experiment with it, or build upon it. They wield it as a club rather than a scalpel, relying on brute force over intellect. For them, the joy of knowledge is not in understanding but in using it to tear an enemy limb from limb.
Take, for example, the demon before Dex.
Despite its ability to construct simple traps, the very nature of demons made it too lazy to engage in such elaborate tactics. Why waste time planning when one could simply fight? Most demons preferred immediate, violent confrontation over calculated strategy. Victory meant consuming the fallen and growing stronger. Defeat meant death. Simple. This ape-like demon was no exception. It had advanced beyond its lesser kin by defeating and devouring the previous master of this cave, proving itself worthy of the next stage in the Abyss's endless cycle.
Now, however, it faced a new challenge.
Dex stood before it, an anomaly among young demons. Though he had yet to undergo his first transformation, his stature and presence were far greater than others of his level. The ape demon, crouched in the cave's entrance, could feel the oppressive aura radiating from him. A cold sense of impending doom crept up its spine, an instinctual warning that its survival was in jeopardy.
Ordinarily, a demon with even a shred of intelligence would consider retreating in such a situation. Unlike the mindless young demons who rushed into battle without thought, more evolved demons understood the value of self-preservation. Bloodlust did not equal stupidity. If the risk outweighed the reward, a smart demon would withdraw and bide its time.
But Dex smelled different.
The rich, intoxicating scent of blood clung to his body—a scent overflowing with vitality. To the ape demon, it was irresistible. The potential benefits of devouring Dex far outweighed the danger. If it could consume this young demon, it would gain far more than a simple meal. It could achieve a transformation beyond its current form.
And that was a temptation it could not ignore.
The principle of risking everything for a chance at overwhelming power was universal—especially among demons.
A low, guttural growl rumbled from the ape demon's throat, its eyes filled with hunger and greed. Dex, seeing its hesitation, smirked.
Good, he thought. That makes things easier.
Without another word, his body tensed. Magic flared across his form as he channeled his power, his muscles coiling like springs. Then, with a sudden burst of force, he pushed off the ground, leaving a small crater in his wake.
The ape demon roared in response, red flames igniting around its body. It dropped to all fours, surging forward like a wild beast, claws extended and jaws open to tear Dex apart.
The moment of impact was explosive.
A deafening BOOM echoed through the cave as the two demons collided. The sheer force of their clash sent shockwaves outward, blasting dust and debris into the air.
Dex immediately felt his corrosive magic eating away at his opponent's defenses. The ape demon's shoulder scales cracked under the pressure, blood seeping from the wounds. Its flesh sizzled where Dex's aura touched it.
A wicked grin spread across his face.
Without hesitation, Dex channeled the majority of his magic into a single devastating strike. His clawed hand, glowing with dark energy, swung downward like a warhammer, crashing into the ape demon's skull.
A sickening crunch followed.
Blood sprayed from the creature's eyes and nostrils. Its vision blurred, its movements sluggish. The world around it tilted, and for a brief moment, it experienced—paralysis.
Dex wasted no time.
Seizing the opportunity, he flexed his fingers, his claws extending further. With one swift motion, he tore into the open wound on the demon's shoulder, his claws sinking deep into flesh. Then, with a pulse of magic, he injected his signature ability—Bloodflame.
The effect was instantaneous.
A howl of agony erupted from the ape demon's throat. The hellish flames ignited within its body, eating it from the inside out.
Dex's claws, trying his best to stimulate his own magic power, and use advanced The fire element talent after the little demon awakens, wants to resist the blood inflammation flowing in the body, but its fire attribute talent and magic strength are obviously weaker than Dex, and can only struggle to death under the blood inflammation controlled by Dex.
Desperate, it thrashed wildly, breaking free from Dex's grasp. Summoning every ounce of its magic, it attempted to purge the invasive fire, activating its fire-elemental affinity. But its power was weak. Its control over flame was inferior to Dex's.
The result? A slow, agonizing demise.
Dex did not pursue. There was no need. Instead, he circled the dying demon like a predator savoring its meal.
And Dex did not give it a chance to fight to the death. After it broke free of its own restraint, it evacuated a certain distance back. Except for the long-distance transmission of magic power to accelerate the burning of blood inflammation, it quietly kept swimming beside it. He went blocking its way out to prevent the other party from escaping, just like a wild wolf watching its prey struggling after bleeding its prey!
Before long, as the magical power in the ape demon's body was exhausted, the blood inflammation was no longer obstructed, and it flowed out of its mouth and eyes along the flesh and blood unstoppable, and its life stopped abruptly, becoming the first one.
With each second, the flames spread further. Blood boiled, flesh melted, and soon, even the creature's desperate struggles grew weaker.
Then, with one final gurgled breath, the ape demon collapsed.
Its body twitched once. Then again.
And then—stillness.
The cave fell silent.
Dex walked forward, gazing down at the charred remains of his fallen prey. The scent of burnt flesh and scorched blood filled the air, a fragrance he had long grown accustomed to.
Reaching down, he grasped the fading soul that still clung to the corpse. The glowing wisp struggled weakly against his grip, but its fate was already sealed.
With a grin, Dex opened his mouth—
And devoured it whole.
A wave of power surged through his body, sending a shiver of pleasure down his spine.
Yes… much better than the infant demons.
[Evolution Points +254]
Checking his status, he noted that his physical and soul attributes had already reached the limits of his current stage. The evolution points, rather than being immediately consumed, were stored for later use. A single kill had granted him more power than devouring a dozen young demons.
Not bad, Dex mused. Not bad at all.
The Abyss favored the strong, and today, it had favored him.
Without another glance at the lifeless husk behind him, Dex turned and disappeared into the darkness, hunger for more filling his every step.
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