The Damned Demon

Asher stood frozen, bewildered eyes locked on the delicate, flaming figure floating gracefully before him.

The little girl, formed entirely of flowing liquid, orange-reddish flames, hovered serenely above the scorched earth. Four crimson eyes sparkled playfully yet hinted at deep, hidden wisdom beneath her innocent facade.

"You…are you Hell Maiden…?" Asher breathed quietly, caution mingling with disbelief. He vividly remembered the towering, fearsome creature he once faced in the Chamber of Hell, her power terrifying and overwhelming.

But this little girl looked like nothing more than a smaller, youthful imitation—strangely delicate and mesmerizing.

The flaming slime girl's scarlet eyes curved gently into crescents as she laughed, her voice a sweet melody, full of gentle amusement.

"My prince, I am pleased that you haven't forgotten your favourite maiden," she answered with a wide grin.

"But you seem...different to what I remember..." Asher mumbled with furrowed brows.

She floated a little closer, "Indeed, my prince. But for now, I prefer this form. It's far more cute—wouldn't you agree?"

Asher blinked, caught off guard by her casual manner, the ease with which she called him 'prince,' making him wonder if she was addressing him like that because of the 'Hell Prince' title he had received from her. Her playful demeanor felt deeply unsettling yet strangely comforting.

"So you are the last fallen spirit I have to prove my worth?" he asked and added, "What exactly are you?" he demanded, stepping closer carefully, his eyes narrowed with wary fascination. "You seem different from the others I've faced."

She spun lightly in mid-air, flames swirling like silk around her slender form, her voice teasing yet sincere. "I cannot give you my true name because it's too powerful and dangerous for you to handle hehe. But you can call me Azi!" she whispered, the syllables resonating softly, laced with undeniable power, "A devil who fell into a very bad place for being very rebellious hehe."

Asher felt his heart pound sharply, eyes widening, "You're a devil…? Like the ones from the legends? The ones who granted powers to us mortals and a system to help us increase our strength?"

Azi's scarlet eyes twinkled with playful amusement, "Mmm, tempting thought. You would find the truths far less exciting. You are not even looking at the real me. I am just a useless fragment of my true self. Otherwise I could have had some fun with you. Nevertheless, you are here because you are greedy for my powers, aren't you?" She asked with a wide grin.

Despite himself, Asher relaxed slightly, captivated by her charm and innocence. Yet he still sensed profound depth beneath her playful exterior, wisdom far beyond what her youthful appearance implied.

He also realized she was right. He was here to gain strength, and he didn't have time to mess around.

"Yes," Asher finally spoke cautiously, his voice firm yet curious, "So what is your test going to be?"

Azi floated closer still, flames gently brushing against his fingers without burning, "Oh, my poor prince. Were you that traumatized by those five little bullies who tested your soul and body?"

They were "little" baddies to her? Asher wondered how terrifyingly powerful she must be to casually term them like that.

"I don't feel like making you suffer after going through all that. If those little baddies approve of you then you must be worthy of my powers."

Asher's eyes widened, and his chest relaxed, "Are you serious? There is no trial?"

Her eyes suddenly brightened mischievously, "Of course there is! As the Hell Maiden, I shouldn't lose face by giving things to you for free. So before I lend you my strength, I must still offer you an easy trial. A simple riddle—a little something to prove yourself worthy."

Asher raised an eyebrow, wary yet intrigued, "A riddle?"

She nodded gently, her fiery form shimmering with playful excitement, "Listen carefully, my prince, and answer wisely."

Her voice shifted subtly, growing deeper, mystical, echoing like ancient whispers across dimensions:

"In shadow's coil, he wakes anew,

Threads of fate bound tight, askew.

Worlds entwined, in crimson death,

An endless nightmare, a broken dream.

Each breath he takes, worlds and souls tremble and break,

Bound in circles he cannot escape.

But tell me this, O mortal bound,

How might such chains become unbound?"

Asher stood silently, heart racing as the cryptic words echoed hauntingly within his mind. A strange, lingering ache tugged at the fringes of his consciousness—painfully familiar yet impossible to grasp fully.

He exhaled slowly, struggling with the riddle's meaning. It seemed somewhat abstract, layered with hidden meaning beyond his current understanding. Yet instinctively, he felt the importance of his answer.

"This riddle," he murmured softly, "it speaks of someone bound in a never-ending cycle, doesn't it? Cursed to repeat mistakes without realizing it and seeing those around him suffer?" Asher remembered the trial he went through in the Tower of Torment.

It was a trial that carried so much misery and suffering that his soul was still weighed by them.

Azi smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying, watching him expectantly.

He hesitated, gaze distant, contemplative. Finally, after careful consideration, he spoke quietly with a hint of sorrow in his eyes, "I still do not know the answer. But if it were me, I would keep fighting to break that cycle no matter how tormenting it would be. I will never accept that there won't be a way to escape it."

Azi's flames flickered brighter, her four scarlet eyes glistening mysteriously. Her voice was gentle, approving yet carefully guarded.

"It's foolish at first glance but still very brave and interesting… Many would choose surrender as the path to freedom. But would your answer change if the said person isn't aware of this cycle? Forced to repeat each cycle as if it's the first? Having to remember everything at the end of a cycle, only to forget it at the next?" Azi asked as her glowing eyes narrowed.

Asher's heart briefly clenched as if her question stirred something deep he couldn't put his finger on. Just imagining such a scenario made him realize that it was far worse than the trial Drakaris made him go through.

Not knowing yet realizing everything when it's too late…only to forget it all and have everything repeat again and again…That was not just unfair but would be a harrowing fate that was too frightening to even imagine.

"I…I…" Asher didn't know what kind of answer he should give and it deeply unsettled him the more he thought about it.

"Aiiii, forget it!" Azi casually waved her hand as if she was bored and added, "I liked your answer to my first question, even if it might sound stupid. So you've earned my gift, my prince—but remember, true answers are seldom as simple as they seem."

Asher blinked his eyes, "That's it?"

Azi giggled softly, spinning playfully. "Yes! Trust me. You don't want me to make you suffer as well, do you?"

Asher cleared his throat as he shook his head, "Uh no, thanks. I guess I should be feeling grateful for you going easy on me."

"Hehe you should!"

She then gently pressed her flaming hand upon his chest, warmth flooding through him. His eyes widened, breath catching sharply as he felt a surge of new, mystical power.

Azi smiled gently, eyes sparkling, "With my gift, you can become anything or anyone you choose—taking their form, abilities, even memories for a short time. Be careful though—delve too deep, and you risk losing yourself forever."

Asher nodded slowly, deeply absorbing her warning. Yet even as her power coursed within him, questions multiplied within his mind.

Before Asher could gather his wits, the flames surrounding Azi surged brilliantly, reshaping gracefully from a youthful girl into the mesmerizing silhouette of an adult woman.

Her fiery slime body grew taller, more captivating, the flames solidifying into curves of seductive allure. Crimson tendrils cascaded like liquid fire around her face, and her four glowing scarlet eyes narrowed sensuously, filled with playful mystery.

Asher's breath caught sharply, captivated and disoriented by the sudden transformation. "Azi…?" he whispered, voice strained with confusion and awe.

She floated effortlessly toward him, the flames around her radiating gentle warmth and temptation. With a playful smirk, she pressed a delicate, flaming finger gently against his lips, silencing any further questions.

"It seems my prince hasn't lost his taste for women despite enduring so much," Azi cooed softly, voice rich with amusement. Before he could react, she drew him close, her slender arms wrapping seductively around his neck. The molten texture of her slime body pressed against him, the sensation surprisingly soft and inviting rather than burning.

Asher's heart thundered chaotically, confusion and something intense warring within him. He opened his mouth to speak, only for her fingers to tangle gently in his hair, her glowing lips grazing softly against his ear.

"Despite having a mortal body, you feel so good under my embrace," Azi whispered playfully, yet her words carried an undertone of seriousness that sent chills down his spine. "I really wish I could make you stay here forever instead of letting you go back…"

Her voice was teasing, almost mischievous, yet for a second Asher was worried if this dangerous and seemingly crazy spirit of a devil might trap him here forever for her own amusement.

"Azi, let's just-"

Before he could say further, Azi pulled him even closer, her gaze holding him captive, "But I have to let you go for now. So take this power, my prince, and use it well. But remember…all this will be for nothing if you let fate toy with you...again."

"Toy with me?" Asher mumbled with a confused look, wondering what she was talking about.

And before Asher had a chance to respond, she pressed a gentle yet searingly warm kiss upon his cheek. Her flames seeped through him, warmth and power flooding every corner of his being.

"Azi—" he whispered urgently, confusion thick in his voice, but her form was already dissolving into shimmering embers.

"My name is....."

Asher's breath froze as he only saw her mouth moving but it was as if he lost consciousness for a moment and didn't hear what she said or what her name was.

"Good luck, my prince," she teased gently, her voice a fading echo, "And try to remember before it's too late, will you?"

Suddenly, reality shattered around him, and Asher's consciousness was flung violently back, spiraling through darkness until he slammed back into his body.

—

He gasped sharply, eyes still closed as he found himself once more in the dark hall, seated cross-legged on the cold stone floor. His chest rose and fell rapidly, breath uneven, mind racing.

'What…what did she mean?' he whispered in his mind, brows knitted together in bewilderment. Her cryptic teasing echoed relentlessly in his mind, each playful word gnawing at him with deeper uncertainty. 'Remember what?'

He recalled Skully mentioning something similar but he thought it had something to do with him realizing his bloodline's potential.

But it seemed like there was something more, especially her mentioning about fate toying with him. Did she know about his past life as Cedric? Maybe it was not surprising she did.

But she didn't have to mention that. He had been desperately trying to forge his own fate even as Cedric. Even if he failed to do so, he still wouldn't give up.

However, the riddle she had given him was still stuck in his mind, gnawing at him in a way he couldn't describe.

He then suppressed that thought, realizing there was no point in bashing his head about it.

Slowly, he lifted a trembling hand, fingertips brushing against his cheek where Azi had kissed him, the lingering warmth still tingling vividly on his skin.

He shook his head slightly, wondering why she liked to kiss him despite being a divine being. He still found it a bit surreal that he just had a face-to-face conversation with a devil, albeit a broken fragment left behind and not her true self.

However, his focus shifted towards the abilities that came rushing to him as if on instinct,

[ New Talent Gained ]

Talent (Hell Maiden -> -8% HP per minute ): [ Devouring Form - "The flesh remembers… the soul imitates… and you? You become."

You gain the ability to use the Devouring Form to temporarily absorb the essence of other beings including their attacks. In this form, you can absorb and enhance your stats by 50% of the essence you absorb.

]

[ New Skill Gained ]

[ Primordial Hunger – "They won't just fear you… They'll see themselves in you—and despair."

Hell Maiden's gift lets you absorb a portion of an enemy's soul upon critical damage or kill, allowing you to temporarily mimic one of their active skills or abilities. Upon contact, you may use the Devouring Form to mimic 1 physical attribute or Skill of your enemy for up to 5 minutes (Cost: 7500 MP) (Cooldown: 20 minutes) (Cast time: Instant)

]