Chapter 128: 126. New Face

You're still engrossed in your work, investigating the depths of this seemingly infinite menu, when you are interrupted by the arrival of the imps in your new evil church.

“You called for us, oh malevolent worshipfulness?”

The voice of Luss cuts the silence, bringing you back to the present. You turn to them, framed in the crooked doorway. Ziff and Keth are both looking around with interest, Ziff floating over to the nearest pew and Keth running his hands over one of the twisted wall designs. Luss is wholly focused on you, however. You nod, and beckon them closer. Sith slips in after them, looking around in approval.

“I've decided it's time to evolve any of you who want it, and officially move you up here as the first denizens of the second floor.”

“Oh wonderful news, my darkling prince! This is most unexpected and welcome!”

You snort, and look him over.

“I'm guess you will be taking the evolution then?”

“Well yes my lord, oh evil one. Who wouldn't?”

You look at the other two, to find them now focused on you, seemingly fully in agreement.

“Some of the others aren't interested in it. It might change you.”

It's Keth who answers.

“We're Demons. Risky deals for power is kind of what we do, sir.”

You nod, then gesture around you.

“Fair enough. Find a clear spot and let us begin.”

The three imps spread out around you, forming a cross with you in the centre and the black altar as the fourth point, and you resist the urge to burp as nine hundred fame is drained from you. Sith crosses her legs as she takes a seat on one of the back pews, watching with bright, curious eyes. Even the Oread seems interested, taking up a position just to one side.

The three imps slump over and rise into the air as if floating, just as Sith did, before ballooning in size. Immediately you notice something different. Luss and Ziff, just like Sith, stretch into lanky humanoids, wings vanishing, faces distorting into those of humans, and hair sprouting. Ziff's horn vanishes, but the ring of teeth around his shoulders is significantly larger and thicker on the left. Luss' grey hair sprouts into a wild mane, uncontrolled but thankfully short enough to stay out of his face. Both share the rib-corseted black leather look that must be iconic to Mammonites, along with the starved stomach.

Keth however is different. You'd known it was a possibility, you suppose. There are so many types of demons that imps must have some of the widest evolutionary chains in existence, and Keth is the most different imp you have – he's quieter, more cowardly. If anyone was going to divert, it would be him.

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His back arches up and hunches, seemingly weighed down by a elongated, lizard-like head. His arms grow till they reach the floor, his legs curled up beneath him, and both ending with thin claws. His wings grow with him, spines and bone spurs littering the leading edge like bastardised feathers. A long tail pushes out from under his loincloth, more spurs curling from the tip until it resembles a bundle of fishhooks. His skin shifts hues, losing the purple colouration of the imps, leaning towards a stony grey.

You eye him with interest, activating your perception.

Keth, Gargoyle, Level 6

You sit back on your haunches as the three new demons begin to shift, their feet touching the floor once more. Sith stands and saunters forward, standing tall.

She smiles. “I'm glad I'm still taller than them. It will make leading them easier.”

She then pauses, and your recognise the intent. You're silent, and after a moment, give her a shallow nod. Sith has been level headed and loyal, and having an established hierarchy for any new demons who show up will be helpful.

Luss and Ziff stretch, breaking out of their trances and looking around. Keth however remains still. You circle him as Sith leads the other two outside.

No movement. Not a flicker of the eyes under the closed lids, nor a twitch of muscle. Not even the rise and fall of breath.

You sit back.

“Impressive. I'll have to alter the décor accordingly.”

Keth's eyes crack open, revealing black orbs like marbles. He shifts to face you, the movement so quick that you nearly miss it, before he settles into absolute stillness once more.

“Thank you.”

The new demon's movements are jerky, sporadic, like a predatory bird – flickering moments between statuesque stillness. If the Mamonite demons are your all rounders, capable of magic and combat, the Gargoyle looks to be some sort of ambush specialist. If you litter the upper floor with statues, Keth and any other Gargoyles you collect will be able to hide amongst them, leaping down at opportune moments. The hooked tail looks like it's designed to entangle vulnerable heroes and drag them out of position, and the wings imply at the very least a bounding glide.

You nod to yourself. You can work with this.

---

A huge thank you to my patreons Spockk Kirkk, Tyrant615, Dakkanor, Jakelandiar, Roman, TheDrTelos, Bakerdea, Hemlock, Baby Bird and Jupotter. A special thank you to Spockk Kirkk who is paying more than they need to, which is one of the most incredible feelings. A very special thank you to Roman for being insane and updating their pledge to a truly silly amount.

I'm hoping to get back into weekly posts now. Life has been... life. I apologise for my absence, and can only thank everyone who stuck with me through silence.

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