Perhaps only a short while had passed—or perhaps a very long time.
Perhaps it was because it had suffered severe injuries, or perhaps for some other reason... Punishment Demon felt as though its sense of time had been taken away. It was completely unable to distinguish the passage of time—although it had clearly only been lying on the ground, it felt as unreal as a dream.
I'm probably going to die here.
This thought roughly surfaced in Punishment Demon's mind.
Besides that, it might even become ritual material used by that guy or Aleister. Just as it had once turned other humans into materials...
This was also a cycle. A cycle was precisely an act of transcendence, just like Ouroboros devouring itself.
But even so, it did not want to kill itself.
Killing itself would mean denying itself—the demon could not do such a thing. It would be a denial of the Fallen Angel, and cowardice as well.
What's more, after "Cassiem" completely transformed into Punishment Demon, he would no longer be affected by death in the Material Realm.
Even if he died, he would merely lose his power and return to the Dream Realm to sleep. At worst, he would become a Phantom Demon Egg and once again parasitize some child. After that child grew into an adult and was gradually assimilated into a demon host by his Great Sin Imprint, he would eventually be able to hatch again.
If once wasn't enough, then twice. If twice wasn't enough, then three times. Mortals all had their appointed lifespans, but Phantom Demons could attain immortality...
Punishment Demon comforted itself inwardly.
Just then.
A swarm of bats came flapping through the night sky.
They gathered once more before Punishment Demon's eyes, taking on the form of Iver.
His narrowed pupils were