There was no more rock to claw at, there was no more coal to dig, no more iron to mine, no more flint to set his body alight. There was nothing... He extended his hand and tried to grab anything, but his claws dug into his palm. The Demon had done it; he had reached the surface, no longer confined to the mine he was born in.

His body was still burning, and the pain of starvation was still there, but he was no longer in the mine, no longer in the tunnel he carved.

He climbed up, into the darkness above. His body was like a star, like a sun illuminating the area around him. Indeed, he had brought light into the dark surface. A thick fog surrounded the area, but strayed away from him. Away from his light, from the fire that singed his body.

From the Fire that had become a part of him! Of his coal-like skin! Of his flint-like visage, embellished with iron and steel! He had transformed, but hunger remained. Hunger remained.

The demon clawed at anything, but he found nothing to eat. He did not find anything to consume, he did not find anything. For a moment, he considered going back to his tunnel and digging more and more and more.

But before he could act upon it, a voice reached out to him.

"This... is an interesting sight."

He saw another light in the distance, hidden by the fog. The demon guessed it belonged to a lantern, but who held it? He sprang away, his claws dug into the ground, and he prepared to fight.

The other demon chuckled as he slowly approached. He wore a long black coat and a strange top hat. His attire was unlike any the young demon had seen... well, he hadn’t seen many demons wear clothes at all.

Nonetheless, he found it strange. It was unknown what he hid in the long coat, and he subconsciously backed away. The older demon frowned, but he did nothing to agitate the young demon clad in fire.

"Your efforts were not in vain, your desire to survive, to eat, to live was remarkable, and thus, you were... rewarded."

The demon did not know what he was talking about, but his consciousness began to fade; it had been a while since he put anything in his mouth. His body began to crave another new addition. Starvation struck again.

But he tried not to fall asleep; he tried to fight off the pain and the hunger, for he knew falling asleep was akin to death. If his state did not kill him, then the Demon in front of him would.

"I do not want to harm you, boy. I’m merely studying you, about the Unique skill you obtained, I believe it will help in my research."

The starving demon did not answer. Upon seeing this, the older Demon threw something at him.

"Hellboar meat, a bit poisonous, but I don’t think that would be an issue for you now."

The Demon said, and the starving demon looked at the piece of meat thrown over. It was the thigh of a Hellboar, the juiciest slice, the best piece of meat from it. Without a second thought, he dived into it. He had forgotten caution and chose to deal with it later. It was food!

How long had it been since he had food? He had no idea, none at all; he was simply glad to have something worth eating at the moment. The Demon looked at the starving demon with a sense of pity and clenched his fists.

He waited for the demon to eat his fill, and during that time, he had taken out a notebook and pen, scribbling something in it. He was studying the demon before him, noting down every detail about him.

How could he not? The Demon was witnessing the birth and effects of a Unique skill, after all! After using a few observation skills, he was certain.

The young demon, in his desperation to survive, to climb, to live, had awakened a Unique skill, the one responsible for transforming his body like that. It was termed...

’Assimilation!’

A Unique skill had manifested in the young demon and had allowed him to climb the mine. He had escaped the place he knew from birth, which was also destined to be his coffin.

"Ha, indeed. Fate works in mysterious ways..."

The Demon muttered as he watched the young demon eat his fill. After he was done, he stared at the Demon warily and asked.

"Who are you?"

"A fool who wishes to create life in the Abyss. I’m known to the others as The Doctor."

The young demon did not say anything else; he merely looked at The Doctor with confusion, wondering what he was talking about.

Create life in the abyss? If he wanted to do that, why not go to a brothel and fuck a succubus? They are willing to give birth if paid a pretty coin, are they not?

But then, it dawned on him. The young demon almost laughed out.

"Idiot."

He remarked, and the Doctor nodded.

"Yes, most call me that."

The fool actually wanted to create life in the Abyss! A natural life, in other words... plants! He was a fool who wished to plant a flower in hell!

The young demon stood up, somewhat rejuvenated from the piece of meat. He eyed The Doctor warily, unaware if he was about to meet his end or not. He had let his tongue slip and called a demon far more powerful than him an idiot. No matter his aspirations, no demon took an insult lightly.

The child stepped back, and the Doctor laughed. He assured the young demon.

"Didn’t I tell you already? I’m a fool; it’s alright to call me an idiot. I won’t harm you, I just meant to study you."

He put the notebook and pen away and pointed in a direction. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"In that direction is the nearest city, Envy, it’s about half a day’s distance away. You should go and start a new life there. You’re unrecognizable from a mine slave now, so they will most likely assume you’re a new branch of natural demon. The breeding season just ended, so the timing is just right."

The young demon remained silent, curious as to the intentions of the Doctor.

"Are you wondering why I am being so helpful?"

The Doctor chuckled and explained.

"It’s because I gained a lot from studying your... mutation. Perhaps it may help me in my research. You bear no ill will towards me, and neither do I. Why must we fight? Haha!"

He laughed out loud, and the young demon was certain he was talking to a madman, no, a mad demon! The young demon wanted to run away, and he did. He ran in the direction the Doctor pointed at, and ran and ran and ran, until his flaming visage disappeared from sight, obscured by the fog.

The Doctor watched his departing figure with curiosity, wondering how that Demon would progress through this cruel society. He was certain he would become something different, someone of value, but how far? How far would an individual who awakened to a Unique skill go? He was uncertain, but hopeful.

"Indeed... the weave does reward those who struggle and strive."

He muttered and went on his way, praying in his heart.

’I hope it rewards me too.’

He continued on his journey, traversing the abyssal layer 555 for a while, before moving to another layer, and another, and another... The search for life in the Abyss, the desire to create it... was a long and arduous process.

As for the other Demon, he ascended. Free from the mine, he ventured into the cities, and just like any demon, he fought. He fought, he rose, and he fought again. He fought and fought until the other demons were scared of him. He fought until there was nobody left to fight; he fought until he had reached the throne of his abyssal layer.

Just like he had climbed his way out of the mine, he had climbed his way to the top of the hierarchy of his layer. His fists were as strong as metal, his claws capable of unleashing Hellfire, and his body as black as coal, but as durable as steel. His greatest feat, which earned him both his title and the notice of the Queen of Succubi, Demon Lord Paimon, rank nine, was the defeat of a God beast. He had challenged one, and after a fight that lasted three days and two nights, he had emerged victorious, taking the God Beast’s life.

He had many titles, such as Unifier of the Abyssal Layer 555, Lover of the Demon lord Paimon, Mad Fist Demon, Mad Demon of Fire and Flame, Hellfire Claw, but the one given after his victory over a God Beast was the most famous, renowned both in the Abyss and the Alliance. Demon lords paid attention to him, Paimon treasured him, and the Alliance was incredibly wary of him.

He was the Martial Star!