"When we leave this room, we'll have to worry about being tracked. Fortunately, now that your angelic side has awakened, the Trackers will have a hard time following your trail," Amara spoke seriously, a calm look appearing in her eyes.
Tracking the heir of the Abyssal Throne wasn't an easy task, especially now that Daemom had fully awakened his angelic part. That alone greatly helped their precarious situation.
"We'll stay in Portland for a while and prepare, especially starting your training, or at least its basics," she finished with a bright look full of expectation.
Daemom nodded, leaving matters like this to Amara, who knew what she was doing. Yet, he frowned upon hearing about the training part—not that he didn't want to strengthen himself, but they didn't have much time for that. Getting to Brighton Hall Academy as soon as possible was what he hoped for.
Returning to the orphanage wasn't an option; involving his adoptive mother in this mess wasn't part of his plans. Though he wasn't sure if Brighton Hall Academy was trustworthy either, a beggar can't be a chooser when it comes to food.
"You have to start learning to control your demonic energy, something that won't be too difficult for you, since you easily manipulated my demonic energy during your fight against the Duke of Hell." Amara switched to teacher mode, her expression notably animated as she began to explain patiently. Her eyes fixed sternly on Daemom, much like a strict teacher with unruly students.
Daemom rolled his eyes at the obvious excitement of the demon adolescent; she seemed happier about this than he was.
"Demonic energy originates from the heart and flows throughout your body. Its most basic use is to enhance your body and physical attributes. The amount of enhancement depends on the quantity used in the reinforcement process. So, if you use 2 units of energy, your body will proportionally strengthen. However, even demons have limits to how much enhancement they can achieve, depending entirely on their own talent," Amara explained, sitting beside Daemom, her voice clear and coherent, making even the most difficult students successfully learn.
"Close your eyes and feel it, Daemom. Flowing through every corner of your flesh and blood, returning straight to your heart," she extended her finger, tracing lightly over his skin, movements synchronized with her voice.
Daemom could feel inside his body what Amara was talking about; this fiery energy flowed through him unhindered, reaching every part of him. Each time the demonic energy passed through his blood, it brought an unknown change within him.
Something that Daemom would only come to discover in the following months.
Reaching his hand forward, Daemom directed this energy to his arm, and a crimson aura enveloped his entire right arm. It seemed like a film adhering to his skin, gently rippling over his arm. "That's good, you've grasped the basics of manipulating demonic energy; now let's move on to something relatively more challenging." Seeing the crimson aura, she nodded with satisfaction and spoke with a smile.
Daemom's talent was worthy of being the son of His Majesty, something demons would take years to learn; he learned it almost naturally, as if it were a natural instinct of his body.
"The next step is to cover your body with your demonic energy," Amara spoke with a serious look, teaching Daemom as her mother taught her before.
Following her words, Daemom attempted to cover his entire body, but soon discovered it wasn't as easy as before. He could redirect demonic energy to a specific part of his body, but the process became much more complicated when he tried to spread the demonic energy to other parts simultaneously.
To redirect demonic energy to a body part, Daemom had to concentrate, which was relatively easy. But what happens when he tries to divide his focus to other areas of his body at the same time?
The answer is simple: he completely loses concentration and the flow returns to normal.
Daemom tried a few more times before getting tired and stopping; in none of the attempts did he manage to cover his body with demonic energy. It was extremely taxing to divide his focus like that.
Daemom breathed heavily, panting softly, while Amara beside him wiped the sweat dripping down his face and spoke gently. "Don't worry, you'll get there, hopefully soon."
Nodding, Daemom looked at Amara and asked curiously, "If this is the basics, what are the intermediate and advanced stages?"
Amara smiled at Daemom and lifted her head proudly as she replied, "In the intermediate stages, unlike the early stages, demonic energy isn't just used to reinforce the body and physical attributes. When you become proficient in manipulating your demonic energy, you can briefly distort reality and begin to create your own Gift."
"Gift?" Daemom looked at her confusedly.
As if guessing what he was thinking, Amara explained, "Demons aren't born with power; they learn to control demonic energy. As you refine this control, a specialization emerges, something you become exceptionally skilled at doing. For example, I'm very good at using demonic energy to transform and change matter. I can literally transmute matter and create weapons with any effect I desire. This ability is called a Gift among demons and is categorized as Aspects of Universal Laws. My Gift is linked to the Aspect of War."
"Demons like Dukes and Infernal Princes are the pinnacle of demonic energy control. They have developed their Gifts to the fullest, perfecting their Aspects."
With Amara's explanation, Daemom finally understood everything. Yet, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous at the thought of having to fight against beings who could literally shape reality like toys.
Letting out a sigh heavy with both despair and relief, Daemom composed himself and showed a determined look. He wouldn't flee in fear; it wasn't his nature to fear his enemies.
They should fear him, for he was coming!
"What are the advanced stages of manipulating Demonic Energy?" Daemom asked, resting his head on Amara's lap and sighing with comfort as he felt her hands in his hair.
Stroking his soft, silky hair, Amara smiled and replied, "Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Specialist, and Master. Each stage is characterized by how much you develop your own Gifts. Master is the pinnacle, but it's said that His Majesty surpassed that level and reached a height never achieved by anyone other than the Creator Himself."
"My father is quite powerful," Daemom murmured with a sarcastic touch to his tone; calling Lucifer his father still felt very strange to him. When he finally met the man, he would definitely give his beloved father a good punch in the face.
"Very strong, indeed. Only the Vice-King of Heaven, Archangel Michael, and God Himself could contend with him. They say during the Jihad, the battle between the Vice-King of Heaven and the King of Hell could be seen from every corner of the Known Universe." Hearing his murmuring, Amara leaned down and kissed Daemom's forehead with a smile, her eyes filled with admiration at the mention of the battle between the two strongest beings in the universe.
"It seems we have to get stronger, Amara," Daemom closed his eyes and whispered peacefully, a whisper to which Amara wholeheartedly agreed. They had to grow stronger, or else only death awaited them.
[Note from the Author: The demonic energy and entire power system of this book were inspired by three franchises. Jujutsu Kaisen, HunterXHunter, and Chainsaw Man.
There will be another chapter today.]