Asmodeus

"demon"

- Ridiculous. I am the Inferno. I bring forth destruction, that is who I am.

also known as the Demon Sword, is a Cursed Sword that has been passed down through generations of the House of Flaming. The sword has its own will and could materialize and manifest itself as a mighty demon. The sword is currently carried by Arnest Flaming.

Due to his actions and major aspect, he could be considered as the main antagonist of the Asmodeus arc.

Sword
Asmodeus, as a sword, has a unique design. Its edges are waves composting to the slopes, with a flat contrast between the two individual halts in steel. The halt almost connects to the two large and oddly shaped points of the symmetrical blade leading to the cross-stamped middle that protects the wielder while their hands rest on the leather handle. Its sheath is also composed of black leather with bronze finishing.

True Form
In his true form, Asmodeus poses as a giant demon, being roughly four times larger than an average human. He has a fit, ripped human physique, and human-like features, except for a few cracks and nerves spread across his face, most notably from his eyes to his upper skull. He also has two horns extending out from both sides of his head, which curve upwards and is usually surrounded by a black, mist-like aura, similar to his mist form.

Mini Form (Current form)
After Arnest successfully managed to control the demon, Asmodeus now has the physique of a child, being very tiny compared to his true form while still retaining his facial features, which only toned down a little, and the nerves and cracks on his skull vanished. His horns grew drastically shorter, and he still is surrounded by a black, mist-like aura.

True Form
Asmodeus is arrogant and confident while in his proper form and mist form, sadistic and vicious. He's very confident in his power and truly believes that Arnest will never be able to overpower him. However, he gets angered when looked down upon and would not hesitate to use force to prove his views.

Mini Form
After Arnest managed to overpower the demon and he underwent a physical change, Asmodeus became more domestic and not as egotistic as he was in his proper form. He speaks to Arnest usually, despite constantly pointing out the latter's disrespect to him.

House of Flaming
Asmodeus completely and utterly despises the House of Flaming, blaming them for his sealing, and usually badmouths them. Due to his power, he has sealed away in a locked room of the house and is there until Arnest releases it, consuming the girl and causing her to commit a massacre that went down in the house's history. It was said that the sword had been passed down through generations of the family but only changed the hair color of the very first head of the house upon possession, later doing the same to Arnest. He still hates them and is prepared to fight them with all it takes to gain his freedom.

Arnest Flaming
As a Flaming, Asmodeus has hated Arnest since the beginning, never abiding by what she says and always trying to get her to do as he wishes. He considers Arnest a weak obstacle on his way to freedom and always tries to consume her whenever the time is right. He sometimes orders her to do things she disapproves of and is sealed back in, like when he tells her to kill Blade. Asmodeus does not see Arnest as his master and considers her body his servant, which he would use to bring havoc and destruction, but is eventually defeated due to Arnest's strong will. After the liberation, Asmodeus seemed more accepting of Arnest as his master, but still kept an arrogant attitude towards her.

Blade
Asmodeus first thought of Blade was that he posed a significant threat and should be eliminated immediately after he pointed out that the sword was cursed. Like Arnest, he seems to hate Blade, as while he possessed Arnest, she attacked Blade without any second thoughts.

Overview


Asmodeus is the treasure of the House of Flaming, as it has been passed down for generations from one ancestor to another. It was the blessing of the house while it was sealed. The wielder of the sword becomes the next head of the House of Flaming. The sword's curse sometimes turns its wielder's hair to red or vermilion in Arnest's case.

Asmodeus can manifest itself before the wielder in the form of black smoke or mist, and speak to them, though it is unknown if others can see and hear it in that state. However, once inside the sword's inner world (realm), the demon Asmodeus manifests himself in his proper form. The demon will entirely possess the wielder if they don't have an iron will to fight it, something that the FFlamingsconveniently developed.

History
Asmodeus has been passed down through generations of the House of Flaming, the last being Arnest. It was sealed for an unknown pperiodbefore Arnest released its seal and became the new owner. The sword was chained iin a dark room inthe Flamings' household.

Transfer Student arc
Years later, Arnest is always seen carrying it around with her. While in the restrooms, it manifests itself to her only to be quickly sealed back in. The sword raises Blade's suspicion, and he asks Arnest about it, only to be turned down by the latter. The demon appears to her again and tells her that they should dispose of Blade because "He's dangerous", but Arnest calmly defies it, and the demon disappears once again.

Asmodeus arc
With the Tournament King has arranged, Arnest is forced to use the sword to fight Sophitia Femto, a fellow Top Grade student. After delivering a black energy ball to conclude the fight, Arnest calls out for her next challenger, which is Blade, and as she is speaking to him, Asmodeus, finding an opening to act, consumes the girl, dragging her to his inner world (or realm as he calls it). He asks Arnest if she needs his power again and tells her to submit to him, but Arnest refuses and tells him that she will not allow him to use her again. The demon then grabs her by the neck, strangling her and telling her that she is no obstacle to him the way she is now. Arnest regained consciousness soon after.

The following day, Arnest at the Royal Library of Banned Literature requests Asmodeus to consume her, which the demon accepts and drags her to his realm. Tsmodeus welcomes Arnest in his true form and tells her they will finally settle this.

Seemingly annoyed, the demon asks if Arnest is truly serious about trying to control him, which the latter confirms. He tells her that he exists solely for destruction, murder, and bloodshed and that her body only exists to execute his commands. He then curses Arnest and her family for sealing him all these centuries. Arnest offers him a deal that he can do whatever he wants when she allows it at times needed, but Asmodeus quickly disregards that offer, repeating the meaning of his existence. Arnest then provokes him only to find herself dissolving while the demon laughs, telling her that she's too weak and continues to consume her entirely.

A possessed Arnest then attacks Blade outside while she struggles to find herself inside. Seeing her slight vision of hope, Asmodeus tells her to stop thinking, for it is all futile, ordering her to stop resisting and bind to his will. However, with her strong resolve and eagerness to see her only friend again, Arnest overpowers the demon's will and finally manages to control him and the sword.

The next day, while Arnest is getting ready to leave for school, a now miniature Asmodeus tells her that she will be late. She tells him that she will not respond to him in public since she is the only person who can see him and that she'll seem weird if she does, much to the demon's displease. He asks her why she's not putting her hair up like usual, and Arnest tells him she prefers it this way for the day.

Trivia

 * Asmodeus's name clearly references the mythological King of Demons, Asmodeus.
 * It's possible that the sword took a special liking to Arnest as she is only the second wielder of the sword to have their hair color changed.
 * In a recent popularity poll by Shin Araki, Asmodeus ranked third for the most popular side character, with 8 points.
 * Araki has provided the original sketches of Asmodeus's sword form design, though it is not very different from the current one. The waves and edges of it were not as sharp as they are now, and the point edges of the hilt were slightly longer.