Chrysalis

[I don’t see you demon… are you going to show yourself or - HOLYGIZZADIGUP!]

Even as I ask for the creature to show itself, it seems to blink into existence on the edge of my vision, shocking me with both its sudden appearance, and bizarre form. A giant eyeball wreathed in fiery tentacles that appear almost more like tongues of flame than appendages of flesh stares down at me like a watchful sun.

[I did not mean to shock you,] the voice in my mind says, [I have been here some time, but have hidden my presence by erasing it from your mind up to this point.]

[Isn't that a bit rude?] I challenge the demon to help cover my unease at having my mind invaded so easily. [You can't go around just diving into people's minds willy-nilly! How the heck did you even do it?!]

My guard is up. Way up. This demon is clearly powerful, a tier seven, much like the huge brute who stomped away earlier. Its appearance is something like a cross between Invidia, Crinis and a bonfire, giving it a disturbing visage to say the least. Instead of the intense green of Invidia's own eyeball, this demon’s eye is red, as in totally red. The iris is red, the pupil is a different shade of red, and the white? Let's just say it isn't all that white. Looking into this thing's eye is like looking into a fire in a fire in a fire in a fire.

[It is how I protect myself,] the demon doesn't seem perturbed by my attack, [being a physically weaker creature, I use my mental prowess to hide myself from the attention of those that would seek to do me harm.]

[Seems like it would also go a long way to making it rather easy to inflict harm,] I point out.

[That is also true,] it responds, unbothered.

The rest of my party has reacted to this sudden presence with a display of aggression. Tiny has snatched up the hatchling once more, putting his body between the newcomer and Brilliant, whilst Crinis has made herself known by threateningly extending some ghastly limbs from her resting place on my back. For his part, Invidia has continued to hover, threateningly, his eye blazing with envious light.

The demon floats in the air with no apparent effort, looking down on me as we continue our stand off for several long moments.

[Sooooo…] I try.

[Ah. I apologise, I was lost in thought.]

A pause.

[Hello?]

I apologise, I

and eat us or what so we can

Heh.

and after a

have approached you for a very specific reason,] it starts, [I have spoken to you in the hopes that you will

DANGIT.

and prepare

my face into a wall, knocking the already damaged side of the building in completely. That slippery corona-demon! Where the heck did it go?! I frantically try to

should be clear,] the voice rings out again, [that I hunger not for your flesh, but

pronounces that word, I can almost hear the ravenous hunger boiling away beneath that seemingly calm and patient manner of speaking. I pick myself

a encyclopedia? That doesn't seem to be how you

[What is… an encyclopedia?]

huge amounts of information organised so

eye ignites, the flare of heat drying my

[Hot! Hot!]

subsides quickly, and the demon appears as before, hovering calmly

contained and unruffled, [I have never

seriously

mind me asking… what sort of demon are you? One that craves knowledge over Biomass? I just don't think

understand my nature if we are to complete our transaction. I am an Avarice demon, but one of a particular nature. Avarice demons desire to take and hold that which belongs to others, to accrue vast wealth. But the form of that wealth may change from demon to demon. There

Interesting…

but each one of you has a different

eye hovers for

a fundamental aspect of demonic nature that I sense you may not be aware of. All demons are driven by some manner of obsession. The more highly evolved a

something interesting about the