Right now? I’m being taken somewhere. Or rather, dragged somewhere against my will.
The elf, the one who had overwhelmed Marax so effortlessly, has taken it upon herself to haul me around like I’m some sort of prized catch.
Only now do I realize that the place I had been confined in was nothing more than an enclosed rocky chamber. Once she brought me out of it, I got my first real look at my surroundings. Vast, unfamiliar, and teeming with life.
We moved through a territory that, from the looks of it, belonged to her kind. Among the people we passed, there were others similar to her, yet different. Their ears were shorter, their stature slightly varied, but they all bore a resemblance. If I had to guess, this was her clan or something of a sort.
On our way deeper into their settlement, I noticed something peculiar. Everywhere we went, people greeted her with respect. Bows, nods, and spoken words laced with reverence.
Their behaviour made one thing abundantly clear. She wasn’t just a member of this clan; she was someone of importance, someone they looked up to.
An alpha, perhaps.
That made sense. If someone of her strength wasn’t at the very top, that would be terrifying.
At one point, one of her kind stopped us, eyes flickering toward me with obvious curiosity.
"What are you carrying?" he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and suspicion.
The elf, without hesitation and with a casual smile, responded, "Isn''t he a cute snail?"
There was a brief pause. I could see the disbelief flashing across his face, but instead of pressing further, he forced an awkward smile and nodded, letting the subject drop.
Smart move.
I could tell he wanted to question why a "snail" was this large, but perhaps he already knew it was a pointless endeavour. If she had decided I was a snail, then as far as she was concerned, that was the truth.
After what felt like an eternity of being paraded through the settlement, we finally arrived at a large wooden structure. Unlike the rocky enclosure I had previously been in, this place had a different texture.
!Wood My Comprehension skill identified it instantly. I made a mental note of the material. It might be useful knowledge later.
She led me inside, ascending a few steps before stopping at a secluded room.
"Alright, fella. There ya go," she said, dropping me unceremoniously onto the hard flooring before launching herself onto something softer. A bed, I assumed.
She made herself comfortable, completely relaxed as if the past events hadn''t been the least bit exhausting for her. Meanwhile, I remained motionless, calculating my options.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Could I escape?
No.
The answer came swiftly, brutally honest. I couldn’t oppose her, not as I was now. The difference in our strength was a canyon so vast it might as well be infinite. If I made a single wrong move, she could crush me effortlessly.
Survival was all that mattered.
The plan hadn’t changed. It couldn’t.
Ever since I woke up in this new existence, my only goal had been to survive, to endure, to claw my way forward.
And right now, the only way forward is evolution.
A flicker of excitement ran through me as I recalled the notification I had received earlier. At the time, the chaos had prevented me from focusing on it, but now? Now, I had all the time I needed.
I accessed the system message.
[Evolution Available]
Finally.
The thing I had craved since the moment I became aware of my existence was now within my reach. My path, my future, it would all be decided here.
I selected the available evolution option, and in an instant, a list of choices appeared before me.
---
Demon Larva → Lesser Demon Evolution Paths:
- Devil [Pride Lineage]
A Lesser Demon born from the authority of Pride. Arrogant beyond reason, they refuse to conform to rules, seeing themselves as above all others.
TRAIT: Agent of the Primordial Demon of Pride.
ATTRIBUTE: Shadow.
- Incubus [Lust Lineage]
A Lesser Demon born from the authority of Lust. Possesses a unique charm that ensnares others. Sustains itself by absorbing life force and souls.
TRAIT: Agent of the Primordial Demon of Lust.
ATTRIBUTE: Hypnotic illusion.
- Fyrs [Wrath Lineage]
A Lesser Demon born from the authority of Wrath. These demons possess unmatched physical strength, built for combat.
Aggressive and short-tempered, they are the embodiment of destruction.
TRAIT: Agent of the Primordial Demon of Wrath.
ATTRIBUTE: Fire.
- Capra [Greed Lineage]
A Lesser Demon born from the authority of Greed. Demons of insatiable desire, they thrive on taking what others cherish most.
They find satisfaction in watching others suffer from loss.
TRAIT: Agent of the Primordial Demon of Greed.
ATTRIBUTE: Mental Manipulation.
- Chitterspawn [Gluttony Lineage]
A Lesser Demon born from the authority of Gluttony. The eternal consumers, their hunger knows no bounds.
Devourers of life and death alike, feared for their insatiable nature.
TRAIT: Agent of the Primordial Demon of Gluttony.
ATTRIBUTE: Spatial Manipulation.
- Gorgon [Envy Lineage]
A Lesser Demon born from the authority of Envy. Creatures of spite, they despise success in others.
They destroy confidence with whispered discouragement, sowing misery wherever they go.
TRAIT: Agent of the Primordial Demon of Envy.
ATTRIBUTE: Mental Compulsion.
- Wretchling [Sloth Lineage]
A Lesser Demon born from the authority of Sloth. Demons of lethargy, they influence others to embrace idleness.
Despite their laziness, they are one of the oldest and most feared demonic existences.
TRAIT: Agent of the Primordial Demon of Sloth.
ATTRIBUTE: Puppetery Mastery
---
A flood of information washed over me, each evolution presenting its own path, each choice carrying consequences I could barely comprehend.
Then, another message appeared.
[Notice!]
You have earned recognition from all Seven Primordials!
An invitation has been extended for you to join any Primordial Lineage of your choice.
[Notice!]
You have made an accomplishment!
Title Earned: [A Nightmare’s Birth]
At only sixteen days of existence, you have gained the attention of the Primordials.
Title Effect: Effects will manifest during the course of evolution.
Choose your evolution path:
Devil [Pride Lineage]
Incubus [Lust Lineage]
Fyrs [Wrath Lineage]
Capra [Greed Lineage]
Chitterspawn [Gluttony Lineage]
Gorgon [Envy Lineage]
Wretchling [Sloth Lineage]
---
My mind reeled.
I had been given a choice, but the weight of it pressed down on me like a boulder.
Each option was a doorway to something greater, power beyond my current comprehension. But with that power came commitment, allegiance to a force far beyond my understanding.
Which path would I take?
Which lineage would I claim as my own?
For the first time since my rebirth, I stood at the precipice of something far greater than survival.
This was evolution.
And I had to choose.