Green Demon (D)

Common Lesser Demon.

A common adult evolution of demons found throughout the upper stratums of the netherworld.

This demon boasts a distinctive regeneratable, green leathery skin that not only offers a robust defense but also slightly diminished magical defenses. Green Demon, utilizing their high regeneration capacity at the expense of their own body mass. The plumpness of these demons is not a mere aesthetic; their corpulent forms serve as a reservoir, providing ample mass for their remarkable regenerative abilities.

Green Demons exhibit an affinity for sleep and defensive magic and aura. Their affinities weaves an intricate tapestry of protection, safeguarding them against many of the myriad threats that lurk in the netherworld.

These creatures, driven by an insatiable hunger for wealth and excess, often tread the sin-laden paths of greed and gluttony.

Green Demon Stats [https://i.imgur.com/X1rO5hC.png]

Location: Along one of many trails found throughout the upper stratums of the netherworld.

In the labyrinth of trails meandering through the upper stratums of the netherworld, two figures traversed the winding paths. The lead figure bore the obvious burden of something upon its shoulder.

Upon that shoulder, nestled in an uneasy slumber, rested a nameless demon larva, gradually rousing from its stupor. Groggily, it attempted to piece together the unfolding situation.

As the demon larva's senses gradually sharpened, it found itself intrigued by the landscape. A lava stream flowed nearby, like a fiery serpent snaking through the stone spires that characterized the netherworld.

Obliviously, the fat green demon, maintained as brisk of a pace it could, still unaware of the awakening presence on its shoulder.

As the demon larva's memories coalesced, it recalled the daring escape from the two demons, a frantic bid for freedom that had nearly succeeded. Yet, at the last moment when it was so close to liberty, an inexplicable sensation had coursed through its body, plunging it into a deep slumber.

With a wary awareness, the demon larva found itself perched on the shoulder of the stout green demon, whom it cheekily dubbed 'Faty.' Behined 'Faty' walked his gray companion, their attire fashioned from the hide of demon larvae, a disconcerting detail suggesting a destination far from enjoyable.

The demon larva, sensing a window of opportunity, cautiously tested its body's responsiveness. Though fatigued, it discerned a newfound agility that hinted at a potential escape.

Determined to evade its captors, the demon larva began to formulate a plan, mindful of the precarious situation in which it found itself.

However, it waited, and waited. And waited.

But patience proved to be the demon larva's ally as it bided its time, observing the subtle signs of weariness in 'Faty.' Then, seizing the opportune moment, it struck.

The green demon, growing fatigued, cast a glance back at its gray companion, ready to voice something, but an exasperated, "Arg," cut short its words.

In that fleeting instant, the demon larva, perched on 'Faty's' shoulder, launched a surprise attack. Its tail, managed to draw blood from the tough green hide.

Seizing the distraction it had created, the demon larva capitalized on 'Faty's' momentary lapse in attention. With a nimble leap, it catapulted itself from 'Faty's' shoulder, swiftly initiating its escape. The sudden turn of events left the green demon bewildered, grappling with the unforeseen assault.

Despite the demon larva's valiant attempt to escape, the thinner demon, this time unaffected by the spawning pool's hindrance, closed the distance swiftly. With a relentless determination, it caught up to the struggling demon larva, making quick work of the few meters the larva had managed to cover.

Experiencing a cruel pleasure in causing pain, the gray demon relished the opportunity to torment the silver-haired demon larva. With a sadistic grin, it addressed its companion, "Looks like we've got a feisty one here, don't we?"

The green demon, wearing a troubled expression, approached the restrained demon larva and proceeded to recast the sleep spell, aiming to subdue the struggling captive once more.

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Location: < Dormitory of the 'Temple of Birth' > - One of a few such places scattered through the isolated corners of the lower heavens.

Emerging from the embrace of sleep, the angel stirred on its cozy bunk, its eyes fluttering open to gaze at the ornate ceiling.

Intricate golden etchings adorned the celestial canvas, depicting radiant stars in a celestial dance. The fledgling, captivated by the celestial tapestry above, allowed its mind to wander back to the unfolding events that transpired since the coven's arrival at the Temple.

Rubbing its arms, it swore it could still feel the reassuring warmth of Lyra's tight embrace—the kind of hug that becomes a sanctuary.

Lyra, the younger caregiver, had clung to the fledgling with a vice-like grip, an embodiment of her deep concern. She refused to release the fledgling for a good hour. It was a cocoon of safety, a shield against the uncertainties that lingered beyond.

There was a playful suspicion in the fledgling's thoughts. If the older caregiver hadn't intervened, if the gentle authority of the coven's senior figure hadn't gently pried Lyra away, the fledgling could very well still be ensconced in the tender stronghold of Lyra's arms.

As the fledgling angel sat up, more memories flooded back. The doting attention of the two caregivers had been interrupted only once. It had been by the kind voice informing them that,

< Coven Elder Berenices has claimed lordship over 'Unnamed Settlement'. >

The words had hung in the air, a proclamation that stirred a ripple of shared acknowledgment among the trio. They knew they were now tied to the unfolding narrative of the heavenly settlement they now called their own.

As the fledgling angel rubbed its eyes, caught in the gentle embrace of reminiscence, the melodic voice of Eri, the more experienced caregiver, reached its ears, "How long have you been awake, little one?"

Gazing down at Eri's cascade of long, blue hair, the fledgling, still groggy, replied, "I'm still waking up."

A grin danced across Eri's face at the fledgling's response as she gently probed, "Lyra has prepared some breakfast, are you going to join us?"

The prospect of partaking in its first proper meal sent a surge of excitement through the fledgling. It leaped from the bed, only to meet the unyielding ceiling with an unintended thud before gracefully landing on the floor.

Smiling at the fledgling's exuberance, Eri chimed in, "There, there, no need to be so impatient. It's not like breakfast is going to run away." The words were accompanied by warmth from the caregiver.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Eri followed the fledgling as it confidently strolled down the hallway, silver hair billowing behind like a celestial banner of newfound independence.

Shaking her head in mild astonishment, Eri couldn't help but marvel at the fledgling's remarkable intellect. In her extensive years of caregiving experience, this days-old fledgling stood out as one of the brightest she had ever encountered.

The ease with which the fledgling navigated the way to the kitchen chamber struck Eri. There was no need for explanations about where they would be dining, or even what breakfast was—an ordinary ritual for many fledglings she had guided before.

The thought crossed Eri's mind that the System might be simplifying things, but her seasoned instincts, guided by her years of mentoring, along with her Class skills, hinted at something more profound.

This fledgling, she mused, was different. Yet, in the quiet sanctuary of her thoughts, Eri acknowledged that each fledgling she had cared for held a unique brilliance, a singular spark that illuminated the celestial journey in its own special way.

As the fledgling angel made its way to the kitchen, a curiosity stirred within. Recalling the emptiness of the kitchen from its last check, it turned around and, walking backward, addressed Eri, "What's for breakfast? When I was in there, the kitchen was empty."

"Well," Eri's voice flowed melodically, "normally the coven would provide our food, but since we just got here yesterday, Lyra is preparing us something special."

Intrigued, the fledgling angel asked with palpable excitement, "What is it?"

A mysterious smile played on Eri's lips as she replied, "You'll see." The air shimmered with anticipation, promising the fledgling not just a meal but a fun surprise.

Impatient excitement gripped the fledgling angel, prompting it to speed up, momentarily forgetting it was walking backward. A near stumble threatened to unravel its momentum, but with a quick recovery, it avoided falling headlong into the kitchen.

Regaining balance, the fledgling, now captivated by the delightful aroma wafting through the air, eagerly scanned the kitchen. Lyra, with an air of mystique, mumbled incantations under her breath, golden light radiating from her hand.

Fascination held the fledgling in rapt attention as it witnessed the magic unfolding before its eyes. More fruit materialized on the platters in front of Lyra, accompanied by a generous serving of juice.

A radiant smile graced Lyra's tired face as she turned around, her gaze settling on the fledgling, who stood at half her height.

Before Lyra could utter a single word, she found herself bombarded by a flurry of questions from the inquisitive fledgling.

"How did you do that?"

"Can you make more?"

"Could I learn to do that?"

"You look tired, is it because of making breakfast?"

"If you can make food materialize like that, then why do we even need a kitchen?"

Before the fledgling could continue bombarding the tired Lyra, Eri gracefully stepped in, her voice a calming presence, "Now, now, little one. One question at a time."

The eager fledgling, without skipping a beat, responded, "Oh, yeah, that's a good idea."

Observing the fledgling contemplate which question to pose first, Lyra felt a refreshing wave of rejuvenation washing away her fatigue, replaced by the infectious excitement radiating from the fledgling.

Smiling, Eri suggested, "Let's set the table for breakfast first. You can ask your questions while we eat."

Happily agreeing, the fledgling chimed in, "That's a good idea."

A little while later, the three angels knelt on cushions, hastily grabbed from another chamber by the fledgling, arranged around a low table. They were engrossed in the delightful spread conjured by Lyra when the fledgling, halfway through the excellent-tasting food, interrupted with a surprised exclamation.

"You mean to tell me that the kind voice—no, wait, you said it called itself the System—hasn't been around forever?!" The fledgling's eyes widened with a mix of awe and disbelief.

"Yes, little one," replied Eri, "like I was saying, it's actually about as new here as you are."

The fledgling angel slumped, looking surprised.

Reaching over to ruffle the fledgling's silver hair, Lyra commented, "I know what you mean, though. It's barely been two days, and I already feel like it's been around forever."

For a few minutes, they sat and ate in silence as the fledgling contemplated its newfound knowledge. Before it suddenly thought of something it had wanted to ask the caregivers.

So before it forgot, the fledgling asked them, "Do you know what the kin—System means when it says I need adult access to do something?"

Lyra thought about it for a second before looking at Eri, just as curious as the fledgling.

Eri also seemed to think about it for a second before saying, "Let me check."

Tilting her head as if listening to some distant whisper, Eri then smiled and said, "I think the System is referring to your adult evolution and tutorial."

Obviously curious about what Eri meant, the fledgling angel asked, "Adult evolution? Tutorial? Do you mean the same tutorial you were telling me about the coven going through when the System came along?" The fledgling's eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

Seeing the fledgling's boundless curiosity, Eri smiled even wider before slipping into lecture mode.

"Unlike many creatures, us angels don't mature with age," Eri said, "rather we mature when we form our foundation; finding or choosing our own vocations, charges and path of virtue."

"But as Lyra would know," Eri looked pointedly at Lyra who had stopped paying attention, "before the System we had to first spend a long time cultivating Qi. We would gather Qi from mana-rich environments, using it to strengthen and prepare our bodies for maturity."

Eri paused to drink some of her juice before continuing, "But now with the System, this process should be much easier. Although it's still worth learning to cultivate Qi."

At that the fledgling chimed in, "But what does this have to do with the tutorial?"

Eri glanced at the fledgling, "I was getting to that. Anyways, when the System says you have reached race level 25, you should be ready to undergo your adult evaluation. And the System would recognize you as an adult allowing you to take a tutirual similar to ours where you will gain adult access to the system and your Classes and skills."

The fledgling absorbed the information, contemplating the journey that lay ahead of it.

Lyra couldn't contain her curiosity. "How do you know all this? It's only been two days."

Surprise painted Eri's features as she glanced at Lyra. "I thought you got the mentor Class too?"

Lyra responded defensively, "I did. What about it?"

With calm composure, Eri explained, "It's all in the Class's inherited memory."

Lyra's eyes widened. "So, you've already gone through all that information? There's an entire library in there!"

Eri's response was a mysterious smile, her fingers gracefully tucking a strand of blue hair behind her ear.

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Location: Along one of many trails found throughout the upper stratums of the netherworld.

Slap.

In the labyrinthine trails of the upper stratums of the netherworld, a resonant slap echoed through the air.

The nameless demon larva roused from its slumber, abruptly awakened by the less-than-gentle touch of an unwelcome wake-up call. It couldn't help but feel that being slapped was a rather unpleasant way to commence the day.

Enduring its captor's unnecessary torment, the demon larva swiftly responded, "I'm awake, I'm awake. No need to keep hitting me."

Slap.

The demon larva's patience wore thin, replaced by simmering anger as Faty, undeterred, chose to administer another slap for good measure. Glaring defiantly, the demon larva silently vowed to endure this mistreatment with as much resilience as it could muster.

Refusing to waste any more time, the demon larva began surveying its surroundings for a potential escape route. However, its intentions were abruptly disrupted by the gloating voice of the thin gray-skinned demon.

"There is no point," the thin demon sneered, "we've already tied you up."

Indeed, the demon larva realized, its wrists were bound together with a robust rope made from demon larva hide, further strengthened by magical means. The restraints were as formidable as iron chains, dashing any immediate hopes of a swift escape.

Faty who held the other end of the rope tethered to the demon larva's wrists barked, "Start walking, we don't want to be any later, and we already are!"

Recognizing the strategic value of feigned submission, the demon larva wisely chose silence. It proceeded to walk a few paces behind Faty, head lowered, giving the impression of acquiescence and defeat, a strategic ruse masking the simmering resistance beneath its seemingly compliant exterior.

Amidst the journey, sparse conversations between the gray and green demons provided the nameless demon larva with fragments of information, revealing crucial details about their circumstances.

Firstly, the nameless demon larva gleaned its predicament's origin—Uggrock, a formidable demon, had commanded his subordinates to capture demon larvae alive. However, Uggrock's base had been positioned far from any larva-spawning caves.

But by some twist of fate, the gray and green demons had chanced upon the nameless demon larva's spawning cave precisely when the larva had cleared it, eliminating the protective barrier implemented by the system to afford newly spawned demon larvae a fighting chance.

Moreover, the demon larva discovered that it held a unique distinction among its kind—it boasted a level of intelligence and cunning far surpassing the typical demon larva.

While most demon larvae were deemed to possess the intellect akin to that of an animal—some larva could be likened to a koala's low intelligence, while others could be compared to a smart dog—the nameless demon larva found itself elevated above its peers in terms of mental acuity.

Lastly, the demon larva uncovered the motive behind its current plight—it was relegated to walking, restrained and tethered, due to Faty's social status.

If word spread among their lesser demon peers that Faty and his companion had encountered trouble from a mere demon larva, it would brand them as weak and susceptible to being overpowered or coerced. The stakes of maintaining an appearance of strength and dominance within their social hierarchy weighed heavily on the decision to enforce the semblance of control over the captive demon larva.

Consequently, the nameless demon larva found itself forced to traverse the remaining stretch of the trek to Uggrock's domain, all the while constrained by the uncomfortably tight bindings, a tangible reminder of its enforced submission.