De-horner

It is the fate of many souls to become demons upon arrival to the Hells. Some enter the afterlife in a new form, never human post-death. For most others, it is a slow, gradual transition. Not everyone is happy with this, some actually are quite comfortable in their mortal-like forms and would like to remain horn-less. And wherever there's a problem, there's a means to profit!   The de-horner is an infernal machine developed by a collective of Avaritari demons in 1955, inspired in part by the invention of the angle grinder on Earth in 1954. It is designed to revert the formation of horns or horn-like growths on slowly-transforming creatures, and comes in all shapes and sizes. From larger machinery meant to industrialize the process, to handheld devices meant for personal single-use.   The average de-horner, as they first were developed, has two major components to it: the grinder and the thumper. These are fixed to a frame with suction cups capable of attaching to most surfaces, such as skin, compact hair, scales, metal, and bone. The grinder's purpose is to remove most of the horn-growth's mass, first by making a cut close to the base, then grinding down to the base. The smaller the growth, the less painful this process is. Once the horn is ground down, Essence of Sloth™ is applied. The essence, once pounded into the base of the horn by the thumper, works as a natural retardant for the demonic cellular structures, while not impeding the natural healing factor of the human cells. A more vigorous pounding might even break down the remaining horn entirely, leaving no trace behind besides a brutal concussion.   The invention and commercialization of the de-horner have had broader social implications, particularly among souls on Level 3 and Level 5. Here, societal and economic opportunities can be greatly influenced by appearances, and many a human settlement will not allow equal opportunity to those transforming into demons. The machine has allowed those unwilling to transform to stay human a little longer, and keep their bodily autonomy.