Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Even if the humans were comparatively weaker than his demons, fine warriors still formed the King of Heroes' army.

During the slaughter beneath the walls, he had felt their strength, and he was feeling it now through the arrows pouring to riddle his armor in holes like Swiss cheese.

Their projectiles whistled in his ears, a furious cacophony melding with the soldiers' curses and enraged roars.

Yet, his eyes only saw the King of Heroes, his shiny armor, and the ridiculous red cape fluttering behind his trembling figure.

In his race against time, he didn't even turn to watch the battle's result as a single thought thundered in his mind: behead him before Achilles' return! And that's what he would do.

'For my citizens, our peace, and our dream. DIE!'

Like an infernal berserker, he charged through the barrage of arrows.

His blades flashed before him in wild arcs, each swing causing cracking noises to echo. Broken arrows rained on his path, snapping under his stomps towards victory.

Yet, he grunted with each step, the impact of the arrows that bypassed his improvised defense forcing him to slow. Worse, he muffled an agonising scream as one of them shattered his facial mask and collided with his cheek. Without its protection, his sharp teeth glinted for all to see as the metallic taste of blood invaded his mouth.

And to not give him any respite, most of the archers he had passed by drew their swords to engage him in melee. As for the others? They kept shooting him mercilessly.

Meanwhile, the King of Heroes held his chest as he laughed at the spectacle.

"Look at this fool! He's a second-rate lord who used mythical figures to bask in his fifteen minutes of glory." His tone turned smug as he raised his nose towards the sky and planted his hands on his hips. "Guess what? They're over! Your white-haired bastard lost against Achilles, and your stupid charge won't work either.

You thought you were a demon, but you'll die like a miserable dog, and I'll claim everything you own!"

However, Adam's raging outburst didn't come.

His facial features didn't crumble in despair, either. Instead, two chaotic pools of demonic energies fixed the cocky clown. Dark flames ignited in his palms, flickering wildly. They cast erratic shadows across his maimed face as he pulled his arms back. The air sizzled under their temperature before he unleashed them in a powerful burst.

Propelled forward like a fighter jet, he clenched his jaws against the wind pressure and the arrows. After all, he rushed faster towards them, offering them higher penetration power. Still, he used his helmet to deflect the most dangerous ones with the half-moon crowning it.

The others punctured his mauled breastplate, marring its interior in blood as they dug through his hard skin.

Simultaneously, the soldiers who rushed behind him wailed in agony as an inferno melted their armors and then their skins.

The stench invaded his nostrils, yet it was irrelevant when his goal was at arm's reach.

He cancelled his improvised propellers, landing before the King of Heroes and the few soldiers and mages surrounding him.

But could they stop him?

Before they could fix their trembling limbs and calm the horror pounding against their chests, his blades snaked through the air.

Eyes wide, the King of Heroes reeled as the demon he had just mocked cleaved his powerful guards. Heads flew, drizzling blood onto his immaculate armor. Their still-opened eyes and the dread carved on their glassy pupils struck him like a blow in the guts. The sour taste of acid filled his mouth as he trembled in his greaves. But this was just the beginning of his nightmare.

Skulls shattered next, and intestines hanged out of cut-open stomachs.

His legs finally gave in at the gory spectacle as he collapsed on his knees and vomited. Tears streamed down his face, despair engulfing him.

Still, he gathered a sliver of courage to speak despite the burning sensation in his throat as Adam towered above him like the avatar of Hades.

"Y-You can't kill me. You'll anger Zeus! Achilles will avenge me, too!" He struck his forehead in his vomit, shame an abstract concept that had no place in his situation as he pleaded. "We can collaborate instead. I'll remain far from your forest. You can also keep the mountain.

I-I swear not to seek revenge!"

He raised his head, his breath caught in his throat, to see his reaction.

Yet, what greeted him was a flimsy chitinous can riddled with arrows. Blood seeped from the holes, plopping on the scarlet wall.

Then, he saw Adam's horrible face.

Once sinfully handsome, he now looked like a true demon of hell with his mangled cheek and dented helmet. Vapor wafted with each ragged breath he took as his eyes sparkled with controlled violence.

And he delivered his answer in the simplest manner.

He dropped his silver blade before his scaled forearm split the wind. He gripped the King of heroes by the neck, his fingers tightening as his lips parted.

"Did you enjoy the fifteen minutes of glory Zeus granted you? Guess what? They're over."

The King of Heroes' face collapsed a little more with each word he returned to him.

Yet, he shrugged and continued.

"Hidden behind hundreds of soldiers, you failed to stop a miserable dog." He observed the clown's face turn purple and his vain attempt to undo his tightening grip. "Collaboration? Promises? Do you take me for a fool? You'll use Achilles to backstab me the moment he returns. So...

die regretting the war you started."

However, he stopped before he shattered the King of Heroes' spinal cords, his eyes narrowing at the sudden notification.

[Tiamat: Keep him alive to enjoy Tiamat's extraordinary services. You'll get something wonderful in exchange. HAHAHA!]

He scratched his head, confused by the message's vagueness. Still, he slapped the King of Heroes' chin, sending his brain crashing against his skull to make him lose consciousness.

"Tsk. Weakling who dared to bark at me without knowing anything."

Then, wondering if it was worth it but trusting her, he turned to the mythical figures' battlefield.

By now, the pillar of flames lost its brilliance, and Achilles emerged from it.