Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

He blinked once, then twice, rubbed his tired eyes, and shook his head. Yet, Achilles' panel didn't change. The numbers still hovered before his eyes like an insult to his mere hundreds of stat points. Even the note sounded like a taunt aimed at shattering his common sense.

He rolled his eyes at it, his mind racing.

'His energy is by far the most potent. No! That's the remains from when his mother dipped him in the Styx when he was a baby. Now that he's an adult and already has an affinity for those waters, I'm sure he'll get a better boost and more points.'

An evil laugh escaped his lips, and his eyes narrowed as he turned to Achilles.

"After growing stronger, we'll head for the underworld!" He raised his trembling fist, his words echoing his burning desire to see this legendary man's true limits. Yet, he shook his head and struck his chest. "You'll have to wait a little, but I vow on my lord's title that I'll do everything to support you." He turned to Karna and smiled. "Like I'll do for any of my subjects."

Meanwhile, Achilles shrugged despite the soft smile curling on his lips.

"Keep the future for later." He pointed at the demons surrounding the town. "Don't you have to end this war and plunder the place as the victor first? But don't be too surprised when you see the warehouse."

Adam's eyes sparkled as he facepalmed and chuckled.

"I'm sure you filled it with a ton of materials. Do you mind coming with me? Your presence will comfort the citizens."

Then, he explained how he had attacked the city and promised protection to those remaining in their houses. Under his trusted generals' supervision, he knew his army would follow his command or at least keep the loss of civilians' lives to the bare minimum. After all, faced with the horrors and chaos of war and locked in life-and-death battles, mistakes could happen.

Achilles' eyes widened slightly before he offered him an approving nod.

"I'm tired of this devastated scenery, anyway. I'll show you his lord's manor and the warehouse to save time."

With his agreement, the three of them walked across the melted soil before emerging on a fresh one.

The tender blade of grass swayed with their passage as their voices echoed with curiosity, determination, and ambition until they reached the demonic army waiting before the pierced walls.

Garduck, Bart, Ifrit, and Luna rushed at him, their bright, gentle, eager, and arrogant smiles reflecting in his pupils. A relieved sigh escaped his lips as he handed them the King of Heroes' corpse and saw their wound-free body.

Contrasting his reaction, Garduck observed his wounds and bit his lips in guilt.

"I should have followed you."

Adam shook his head.

"And leave two hundred soldiers without their commanders? No. You did fine and followed my commands to the end. And I'm grateful for that."

Then, he raised his hand, his voice thundering.

"Gather the civilians and surviving soldiers without hurting them. Leave them alone if they refuse to follow you. Better. Offer them to leave the town with their possessions." His eyes narrowed. "But tell them that their prejudice will make them miss a life of peace before they go!"

As the demons scrambled into the blood-filled streets, he felt Luna's accusing eyes burn his cheek.

Then, she snorted and turned not to watch him.

Yet, he saw the sadness in her eyes and quivering lips during that fleeting moment.

'Is she angry about my wounds?' He scratched his head. 'Well, I'll apologise later with a heavy bag of salt.'

He chuckled at the idea and salivated at the prospect of seasoning their meat.

With determined steps, he followed Achilles to the lord's manor.

Midway, Karna left them to help convince the citizens to at least listen to him.

And finally, he reached a large building rising in the middle of the town.

Made of sturdy stones, his brows twitched at its grandeur.

"How is it better than my lvl 7 lord's house?! It even has side wings!"

He clicked his tongue as his right foot rose before the door.

BANG

With a wronged huff, splinters flew around him as he kicked it open to vent the injustice gripping his heart. Yet, it melted the next second as his jaws clenched and his teeth cracked at what he saw inside.

Dozens of women, all dressed in clothes emphasising their assets and revealing their fair skins, trembled before him.

"Please spare us, oh great demon lord!" One sobbed, tears rolling down her eyes. Chapter Find:

Another cuddled her and spoke up next.

"We're mere servants unworthy of your distinguished attention. Please, let us leave."

He hissed at their pleadings, dark flames escaping with the sharp noise.

"Servants?" His eyes darted to their opened dress, landing straight on their thighs. "That bastard made a harem! What was he? A dog in heat?"

"Wow!" Achilles clapped his hands behind him and nodded. "I couldn't have found a better qualification for this clown. He used to spend his days here while his soldiers and I did everything for him." He massaged his forehead and pointed at the ladies. "These young ones believed they would obtain his favors, especially after he summoned me. But I guess you shattered their dreams."

He rolled his eyes so much that the white was showing.

'I should have let Ifrit have fun with this human trash.'

The idea crossed his mind, and his face turned somber before he turned to the wailing ladies.

"I'll give you two paths." He raised two fingers. "You can stay and live in my territory peacefully. Forget about your doubtful duties. I'm not a bastard like your previous lord." He lowered a finger. "Or you can leave the town and handle yourselves alone."

Then, without looking at them, he walked to the immaculate altar in the hall's center.

Sky-blue mana particles glistened, forming a sturdy magical shield around a lord badge shining an iron hue. Larger than his, he understood with a single glance that it had reached the Iron I rank.

Lips curling into an ambitious smirk, he gripped his abyssal blade, raised it above the mana shield, and chuckled.

"Am I finally escaping the elo hell? Well, I'll only have a bronze territory..."