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In hindsight I should have realized that increasing my strength would let me run faster - make me push harder against the ground and scale obstacles with more ease. Not to mention losing the penalties from [Small]. Agility alone is just not enough, even if it makes me faster I still need the power to make a proper use of it.

That Trait was the main reason I was ignoring the Strength Attribute, opting instead for agility and magic based built. Getting more stat points wasn't easy early on, and opportunities to absorb strong essence were few. Even if I did try to exercise a bit while I was staying in captivity - and gaining a point for it, any physical training in hell was futile. Demonic bodies just weren't made to work this way. We can only gather essence to make it our own and alter ourselves.

Curse that Hag for forcing me into a diet of mice and rats. I've got a boost to my agility from that and became more sneaky; rats even providing a small boost of intelligence which I guess is fair - It still made me weak like a child. Crafty old witch, but in the end she made a mistake.

With newfound power in my step traversing the hellscape became much easier. I run jumping over rocks while staying out of sight, keeping to the low terrain and picking a familiar route through the many fissures and ravines filled with sand - kicking an occasional skull or rib poking from the ground that got exposed by strong winds currently blowing dust across the wasteland. They turn to dust under my feet -Fragile things, after getting exposed to the hellish environment for a long time most things break easily. Minds included.

This will make trips to the rose so much less of a chore.

Arriving at a peculiar rock formation of tall, slim spires - that are actually bones of a massive creature, half buried in the hill - I turn and find a narrow crack in stone, hidden from view by a pair of boulders that in the past rolled down here creating a perfect hiding spot for someone my size. It's a bit of a tight squeeze now that I've grown a bit, but still manageable. The winds are getting stronger rising more dust into the air but I somehow barely made in on time, just before the worst came. I make my way underground; down into the grotto that formed under the remains of a long dead leviathan and supported by it's skeleton. The spine makes for a neat ceiling; amazing what you can get used to.

-Now we are home.

There are all sorts of items decorating the dark space. Trinkets I have collected over the years spent in hell and during an occasional summoning. Goat's mace joins a pile of broken metal; armor and weapons that still littered the wastelands, even after all the good stuff got picked by scavengers since the battle - there is still plenty left out there buried under the dust.

The book from the fool goes out of my magic pocket and onto a desk fashioned from a broken off piece of giant rib, next to a bunch of texts I've pilfered from the alchemist's lab - the bastard didn't need them anymore. My magic bottle follows right next to it. After the goat was sucked dry from the taint and essence its body turned to salt, then I've gathered as much as I could but it stays in my storage where it's safe from the taint. It would turn useless if left in the open and I'm out of spare enchanted glass. Done with that I fall to the floor to get some rest and gather my thoughts, finally getting to relax for a change. It was an eventful week.

Going out to hunt in the wasteland only to be interrupted by a magic circle popping up almost next to me; getting summoned for a therapy session by a love struck fool; the encounter with the goat and setting of a trap that ended with getting all the sweet loot. Then messing up with the system at rose's place and after that a trip back, rushing to avoid the storm.

"That goat-bastard snooping around the wasteland worries me a bit," I let out in the safety of my lair. I don't know what it was doing here, not many strong demons come here anymore. Whatever it was up to can't be any good. I take out some of the trinkets I got from what was left of him while thinking what this could mean for me.

Ever since That Day this whole area became a dead wasteland. All the way to the Rim, not much but bare rock covered in dust.

After I woke up at the bottom of the ravine where the Imps were fighting the crock-bull I found myself changed. I wasn't hit in the back by a sneak attack - It was the wings bursting out of my body when I myself had turned into a Red Imp. Somehow, I gained my class there and then. I'm unsure what triggered it, but I remember feeling hopeless and wanting more power - And I got it.

Unpleasant transformation and not really a big power up, but still. The best that came out of it was I found my horns gained an ability to sense mana in an area around me after transformation; it was very confusing at first, gaining a new sense in such a way. This helped me tremendously in avoiding all the fighting happening all over the place though —All the killing. It was a much bigger conflict than I realized. By that time when I crawled out of the ravine, actual armies were clashing in the valleys at the foot of the big mountain chain and up in the sky above.

After getting away from the burning forest, out of the smoke and climbing a tall hill some distance away I could finally take a good look around... And saw more demons were arriving to join the carnage every passing moment, both marching below and by air. Again I was trapped, I was forced to climb this hill to escape a band of roaming demons looking for something to rape and murder - not necessarily in that order from what I witnessed while sneaking my way through the chaos.And it was soon after surrounded by incoming reinforcements. I remember feeling more desperate again, and was then almost killed - nearly crushed under the body of a giant demon that fell from the sky. A flaming crest of horns on its head dim and smoking because of heavy injuries.

Once again I faced death as it was still alive after the fall - and furious, that look in his eyes was filled with Wrath... He was shouting something at me while spilling burning blood onto the rocks - but I didn't pay attention, my mind racing and trying to find a way out... Then everything went quiet.

-The memory causing me to shiver all over again as I look up at the ancient bones left here, buried into the wasteland's landscape that survived that day.

The silence that came after all the screaming and roaring; the clash of steel and an overall pandemonium of violence, was actually more scary than the sounds of battle. Some even stopped while still locked in mid combat, grappling with an enemy and just turned their heads towards the mountains. Humanoid or beast they all just stood or hovered there, waiting. It was a second time that day when something similar happened —or could you have called it night? Apt considering what were to come. Back then it was Impossible to tell with the clouds of darkness above and I didn't yet know that those weren't a thing in hell. So I braced for the worst; I could feel something big was about to happen, not that hard to figure out...

Then the light of Dawn broke on the horizon behind a massive mountain - I didn't know what to think about it, but as the sky was getting brighter behind the mountain range I felt a chill down my spine. I was standing relatively high with a good view, yet still couldn't see over mountains. It still took my breath away for reasons I couldn't understand at the moment.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Slowly at first, one by one the flying demons started to leave. Some disappeared in a flash of purple or in a burst of flames, others were diving into the dark clouds above or to the ground. The army below started a retreat as sound of horns started to echo across the valleys below. Then came screaming and everyone was running for their lives - chaos once again returned to the battlefield. But there was no more fighting, no.

A giant worm like demon covered in spikes and horns, that was just massacring everyone down the the distance not long ago, burrowed into the ground. Giant beasts of war were trampling smaller warriors that were too slow in their retreat. Skies cleared out pretty fast, as most demons up there formed groups and flew away in a hurry.

But some -not many, stayed behind where they stood just watching. Especially those that were too wounded or tired to run.

I gulped seeing this and glanced at the massive guy that earlier had almost landed on me. On its face I could see shock and disbelief mix with fear. It didn't fit on his terrifying visage, felt somehow wrong. But it was there, clear to see and only fueling my own fear; not of the guy but because of what I could feel deep inside, a premonition...

I heard him speak something about a sea and insane holy bastards.

Then all the sound was gone. At that moment the sun appeared over the mountain -and I knew it... There is no escaping this one.

I just stood there utterly helpless with tears In my eyes. Watching the growing radiant destruction rise up, casting sharp shadows into the valleys. Setting the very clouds on fire. Smaller demons all over, bursting in white flames, screaming and cursing —Someone just unleashed a magic equivalent of a goddamn nuke...

"I'm thinking about the past a lot recently." I murmur lying on the ground of my cave. That was a sight to behold - Something I will never forget. And the moment I learned about the system being a thing here.

My first 'Warning prompt'.

I turn a ring looted from the Chort in my palm. I looks like a plain iron band.

> Band of the Deceiver: Increase Charisma while trying to hide the truth.

Another hidden Attribute, not very specific. It changes its size as it slides on my finger.

> Ring of Magic Ward: Protects the user from hostile magic with a translucent shield. Charge left (3)

Nice. This one is thin and silver -glad I didn't have to test myself against it. Mine.

> Sigil of the Bloodmoon Clan: Holds a unique mana signature.

Useless, on the pile you go. I've brought it with me since it is a magic item but I have no real use for it. That's all that survived the impact besides the mace but I can't wield something so ridiculously heavy.

I get up and reach for the bottle. "I don't have time to dwell on the past." If I want to survive down here, I'll need to grow stronger.

"With my recently increased Attributes it should get easier". After that remark and spilling some of the purified demon salt in a circle around me to block excess taint that is present even here from interfering, I sit back in a proper position. Once ready I remove the seal from the flask and guide the power stored inside to enter my body. Filling the newly upgraded Mana Channels.

Learning how to increase my mana pool and Magic attribute with this method was a huge deal when I discovered it some time ago. It's a slow process and mana is in short supply in hell. Especially here after some angel - as I've learned later, ruined everything for everyone; creating the Wastelands and the Dessert. Basically blowing all magic away from the region with that move.

Reading all those cultivation stories gave me the idea. What's the difference between Mana and Qi anyway? If there even is any. Both allow you to bend the world around you to your whims, strengthen your body, break rules - all that nonsense. And forcing it to flow in those channels allows me to slowly grow my power. System confirmed and by yours truly approved.

Experience of going through a summoning a few times also helped me refine this method further, as the magic of the ritual actually does something similar, although with the essence - similar but not the same. When it comes to consuming essence, it comes almost naturally to demons like me. Like we were made for it; but pure mana is tricky. I blame the Taint, as the more of it in the body or the environment the more it seems to mess with this process.

The main way for a demon to grow stronger and fill their mana pool is to consume Taint, that is then turned into mana inside our bodies by our Magic, so I must be on to something.

Still It's yet another method to grow stronger, and I will take it. Taint is bad news and I avoid it after experiencing what it can do to you. Not to mention it somewhat hurts and 'tastes' foul. I might have been damned to live in hell - Doesn't mean I have to like it and follow all the rules.

If there is a way I will get out of here one day. Making a pact with a cult would be an easy out. But it comes with too many risks; there is no guarantee they would let me stay up in the mortal realm either, and not just call when they need something. I would have to follow their whims as well, and those people have a certain reputation. I will stay away from such groups if I can help it.

There is a price to pay if you want to keep a demon - you have to feed it.

To truly 'live' outside of hell, we lack Vitality. Source of life force that is actually the anchor for the soul that lets you— well, stay alive and Not go to hell. Stitching it to the body. And only mortal beings can provide it as far as I know.

Demons are purely magical. Our bodies are a manifestation of will and spirit, kept together with magic. At least that's how it feels like and what books teach, but there must be more to it.

I mean just look at me! Why and how did I end up looking like this? And why am I red? I can -and I do, blame the system!

Anyway since as a demon I don't have the life force to keep me in the mortal realm, I need to get it from outside sources - The living that do. Be it a sacrifice or from killing; and if I were to run out it's back to hell for me.

If you can turn life force into mana, the reverse should be possible.

There must be some magic or spell out there right? Would healing count?

One day...

—Anyway, focus now. Mana 'Cultivation' time.

—―

> Magic: +1

After going through most of my bottle; filling my own reserves after the 'battle' with the goat-fucker and getting a point in Magic Attribute while also expanding my pool - it's time to move a bit and get accustomed to my body and new abilities.

I'm keeping some left to recharge after I'm done testing my magic upgrades. Leveling up a lot at once and not knowing my ability sounds like something that could get me killed. And dying in hell is a game over for a demon.

"Looks like the storm is already gone. Perfect." It is hard to tell how much time passed in hell. Even if there was a day and night cycle I'm currently underground. But I can't hear the roar of the wind anymore so it must have been quite long since I sat down. The circle of salt also absorbed a lot of Taint that got attracted to the pure mana, turning into the gray dust that covers most of hell. The bottle is now pitifully empty-ish. Sigh. I should leave it here where it's safe since there isn't enough inside to make a difference in case there is a fight. And my internal mana is more potent anyway so I would rather use the contents to refuel later. Sure it has some other uses as well but so much happened lately that I don't expect any trouble for now.

That would just be unfair, and I actually got boost to my Luck with my new upgrade to Mischief. With my tail free I can grab one more Lemure.

Right after Storm is the best time to hunt weak demons. Why waste mana casting magic at rocks if you can kill something with it. Hope I find myself a nice target.

"Yeah right!" I grab the bottle anyway. Nowadays I always carry it.

——

-Nothing's here either.

I'm currently skulking through a deep fissure that runs through the ground, just few hours or so of slight jog away from my place. Spots like this are great to wait out the storms. But it seems like I've been cycling the mana longer than I thought, and all the similar spots I went over were already empty. Not even a Lemure to be found. I mean this is the wasteland sure but I should have found something by now, as it has been like a day already. With each trip this seemed to be the growing issue.

The thing is, there aren't even any trails to follow. I might have to move closer to the Rim. I don't really like the prospects of that. I went out to hunt, not fight but finding prey was getting harder lately. -Or I could go to the dessert.

Many creatures actually live there even thought it was the epicenter of the cataclysm. There is also much less taint compared to the Rim. Problem Is not all of them are weaklings out there either, and I could find trouble instead. At least I know what to expect at the rim while the desert is still mostly an unknown. There are also big groups wandering the gray sands - never met them but I've seen the tracks and abandoned camps. I would need to go back to the rose if I wanted to process whatever I get at the former option anyway - so another one in favor of going for the dunes.

Choices.

Screw it, who's to say I won't finding something while on the way. I know I've just been to the mountain but I'm feeling restless. Like I'm running out of time - Must be that thinking about the past reminded me how weak I really am.

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