Ava took the demon's hand, and as soon as she touched Vex, She heard that formal voice:

> Congratulations [Ava Ivanov]. You have a pact with the demon {Vex, Harbinger of Scorned Patience}. You gain access to the skill Demonic Transformation: Vex Thousand Beast.

Her mind could only remember all the blissful moments with Dr. Miles. And found herself completely forgetting all about her doubts and regrets. She felt great.

Ava shuddered as the dark power of the transformation coursed through her body. She could feel her humanity slipping away as the demonic energy consumed her. Deep down, she knew surrendering was a grave mistake. But the temptation was too powerful to resist after so many years of wrestling with her darkness.

"No, Ava! You're stronger than this!" Astor cried in dismay, seeing her fully become the demon's thrall.

Vex merely smiled. "She is mine now, boy. Her will belongs to me." He turned Ava's twisted body to face him, an almost tender gleam in his eyes. "You needn't fight your true potential any longer my prize."

Ava trembled, the last flickers of defiance gutted. How often had she craved release from regret and conscience's ceaseless voice? Now freedom beckoned, if she only let go.

"He deceives you!" Astor warned desperately. "This path leads only to damnation!"

But the boy's voice barely registered through the seductive haze enshrouding Ava's mind. With ragged breath, she whispered, "Yes, Master. I embrace your dark gifts willingly..."

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Vex's grin turned savage. "Then go, my creature. Destroy the meddlesome child as proof of your devotion."

Ava turned on Astor, no trace of mercy in her swirling black eyes. She struck with savage fury, forcing the boy onto the defensive. Even consumed by darkness, some primal part of Ava thrilled in letting her restraints fall away at last.

Vex observed approvingly as her attacks drove Astor back. "Excellent. Once the boy is eliminated, we shall unleash our full might upon this unsuspecting world."

Though corruption blinded her, Ava nonetheless felt the stirrings of unease at the demon's words. Had she damned herself and humanity just to satisfy reckless desires? But the time for doubts had passed - her pact could not be undone.

Astor was tiring under her unrelenting assault. Soon he would fall, clearing Vex's path to subjugate all life. Ava had sealed their fates in a moment of weakness.

Astor sprinted through the twisting halls of the Aegis base, Vex's chilling laughter echoing all around him. The demon's cruel illusions swarmed his mind - images of his parents subjected to gruesome tortures while friends cried out in anguish.

"Their pain will cease when you surrender your pathetic resistance," Vex taunted, voice reverberating from every shadowed corner. "Kneel before your new lord and master."

Astor shook his head violently, pushing back against the dark psychic assault. "I won't...give in...to your lies..." he gasped between visions of horror.

A monstrous shape lurched around the corner ahead - the corrupted Ava, claws raking sparks against the metal walls as she closed in. Astor turned and fled, his mentor's corrupted form pursuing relentlessly.

Deep down, Astor mourned the loss of Ava's kind wisdom and steady presence. She had safeguarded the flickering light inside him through so many trials. To see her reduced to a demonic puppet shattered his heart.

"Your false promises corrupted her spirit," Astor shouted over his shoulder. "But you will never claim me, Vex!"

The demon's answering laugh echoed all around. "Such courage, even now. But every mortal has their breaking point."

More twisted visions flooded Astor's mind - his students Kren and Caleb screaming as grotesque appendages erupted from their flesh. Only Vex's power could spare them such agony.

Astor forced down bile, rejecting the false sights. "Your rule ends here, fiend!" he roared. No matter the threats, he would fight on until victorious or death claimed him. The shadows would not prevail so long as Astor drew breath.

For those he loved and the shining future they dreamed of together, Astor would stand defiant. Let Vex assail his mind with every horror - Astor's spirit would not waver.