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?]

apologise, I

us know if you're going to try and eat us or what so we can

Heh.

my sudden barrage and after a brief

approached you for a very specific reason,] it starts, [I have

DANGIT.

prepare to

with me planting 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 sever the connection it has with my mind, but find

again, [that

hunger boiling away beneath that seemingly calm and patient manner of speaking. I pick myself out of the rubble and turn around to find the demon has once

knowledge? What kind of demon wants to turn itself into a encyclopedia? That doesn't seem to be how you

[What is… an encyclopedia?]

book filled with huge amounts of information organised so that it can be

a blaze of energy, the eye ignites, the flare of heat

[Hot! Hot!]

demon appears

the voice is once again contained and unruffled, [I have never heard of this

seriously weirding me

demon are you? One that craves knowledge over Biomass? I just don't think

wealth. But the form of that wealth may change from demon to demon. There are some who hoard precious jewels

Interesting…

Avarice demon means you have a hunger, but each one of you has a different preference in

giant eye hovers for

sense you may not be aware of. All demons are driven by some manner of obsession. The more highly evolved a demon is, the more refined that obsession has

the way it