Punishment Demon and Dawnfire

"Cassiem, Master! Don't do this!" ### The demon dwelling within the giant sensed Cassiem's resolve and immediately panicked. "Once you take that step, there'll be no turning back—" ### "Enough." ### Cassiem glared with scarlet eyes and thrust his hand into his own chest, pulling out the slender demon wrapped in smoke and smoldering flames. ### —That was Smoke Demon, a demon who controlled concepts such as fire. ### It was not a Greater Demon, but a Lower Demon Cassiem had contracted when he had just become a Demon Scholar. ### Cassiem had never been talented. He was the sort who had gained Path Power through sheer, extreme determination. He had long since grown dissatisfied with his contracted demon... but he had no choice. ### Once he became a Demon Avatar and left his flesh behind to become a demon, he could never turn back. The more he thought about it, the more resentment he felt toward Smoke Demon. ### If you were a Greater Demon like Shadow Demon, Flame Demon, or Dream Demon, you wouldn't be holding me back. ### "Isn't it because you're too weak that I have to take this step?" ### Cassiem's eyes were scarlet tinged with violet. The pale flames, almost transparent, made them look utterly demonic. ### After entering the Fourth Level, he could summon stronger demons—even Greater Demons. ### The final step of an Demon Avatar's hatching from its shell could sever all the contracts it had once signed. No matter how harsh a contract was, refusing to fulfill it was basically getting something for free. He could abandon the contract at any time now, letting Smoke Demon leave him... but he could also choose another method. ### —The giant seized Smoke Demon, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed hard. ### Thick