Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

They lowered their heads in respect as he passed them by. Among them, one rushed to warn their leaders about the lord\'s return.

Yet, he ignored them, his eyes locked on a blurring figure and its fluttering green hair.

A warm sensation spread through his chest as his lips curled into a broad smile.

"Too late. I saw you." He shook his head, amused by Luna\'s reaction. "I wonder how she\'ll act when I see her later."

Chuckling in anticipation, he continued on his way.

Paved streets replaced the forest\'s soft soil as the cart\'s wheel rhythmical spinning filled his ears until he stopped at the altar.

Before it, his trusted subjects clapped their hands and raised their fists to celebrate his return.

As the sisters helped Durgrim out of the cart, Garduck moved to him and stuck his chest in respect.

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"Congratulations on this fruitful trip, my lord. I can\'t believe the single specialist you recruited is a member of the famed dwarven race!"

Adam pointed at Durgrim with his thumb.

"Him? He\'s just the first. Ten more and many teenagers will arrive in a week. I also bought many farm beasts and food."

The subjects gazed at him, eyes wide, for a second before the six troublemakers\' eager shouts pierced the air.

After calming everyone down, he recounted what he did and what they should expect next week.

Finally, he outstretched his palm before him and planted a hand on his hips.

"I assume the new recruits have a basic understanding of our battle style after over a week of training, correct?"

Garduck\'s face turned solemn, his eyes narrowing.

"I instilled our formations and thinking into their bones and flesh. They\'re as strong as we were during the ant\'s raid."

Before Adam could answer, Garduck raised his palm to stop him and continued, his tone as heavy as lead.

"I have something critical to report. A human lord in the north contested our possession of the mountain." He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. "His army wounded a few kobolds before Wukong drove them away. However, he also has a mythical figure under him."

A tense silence settled as everyone clicked their tongues.

Meanwhile, Adam\'s mind raced as he cursed under his breath and clenched his fists. How did that lord dare to wound his citizens? The thought alone made him grit his teeth.

The more frustrating part? He had no way to avenge them with the mythical figure holding his fort. After all, Muramasa and Ozymandias both stated they wouldn\'t fight, leaving only Wukong.

\'We must find something to fight this bastard back. Wukong defends the mountain because I gave it to him. But he won\'t actively attack his territory.\'

He massaged his forehead, feeling a headache tickle the side of his skull. Still, he needed more information. Therefore, he squinted at his silent subjects.

"What\'s the mythical figure\'s name?"

However, they shook their heads to convey that they didn\'t know.

Then, Ifrit\'s voice cracked, and his fiery eyes flared in rage.

"That lord gave us two options: to surrender or face a full assault in six days. I won\'t accept it!" His fist cut through the air to fire a burning bolt before he continued. "This arrogant fool! I\'ll let my flames lick his skin for days. I\'ll gradually increase the temperature to make him regret messing with us. He\'ll implore for death while gazing me in the eyes." His voice chilled.

"And I\'ll answer: No."

Icy sweat dripped from Adam\'s forehead as he grumbled in his mind.

\'Why are you always finding more ways to scare me with your passion for burning things?! Think about how to bypass his mythical figure instead!\' His lips twisted. \'But I understand your anger. We won\'t let him do as he pleases!\'

He shook his head and gripped Durgrim\'s shoulder. It trembled under his palm as he felt the dwarf\'s unnaturally high heat.

\'I\'ll try to negotiate with the lord later. But before that, Durgrim needs urgent medical attention.\'

Without wasting a second and waving his hand to dismiss his subjects, he rushed to Luna\'s house.

Once inside, he swiped her well-furnished interior. Unlike before, he now stood in a living room instead of her bedroom.

He saw a new dining table in the middle and seated on it, Luna\'s attractive figure.

She squinted at him, her brows creasing into a dismissive frown as she stood up and crossed her arms over her chest. Her cheeks puffed, and her lips curling into snort, she started.

"Why did you return so soon? I could use a few more days without seeing your annoying face."

He rolled his eyes at her.

"Why did I see you rush back from the walls, then? Don\'t tell me..." His voice lingered, and his lips curled upwards provokingly. "Don\'t tell me you were waiting for me."

Caught off guard, a burning blush crept on Luna\'s cheeks as her hand rose defensively to cover her torso. She backed a step, her voice coming low and hesitant.

"N-No? I-I... Hum..." Her eyes slipped to the sides several times before they lit up. "I was observing the evening birds from the walls! I just didn\'t want you to believe I was waiting, so I rushed home before you got the wrong idea." She shook her head, recovering her composure. "Tsk, tsk.

You\'re really a boor."

He launched his head back and exploded into laughter at her ridiculous explanation. Yet, his heart drummed in his ears as he watched her cute moment of hesitation.

"It seems I truly am one. Sorry for the mistake."

Then, he nudged Durgrim between them, and his eyes narrowed in worry.

"He\'s a jewel smith I recruited. But as you can see, he\'s in terrible condition. Can you heal him?"

Luna tucked her fingers around her chin and approached the feverish dwarf. She felt his burning forehead, understanding that the trip had taken a toll on him but that his state was already terrible before. Worst, he was no demon, making the treatment more complex. After all, if she injected too much demonic energy into his body, he would just become a half-mad demonised dwarf.

She exhaled and shook her head.

"I can burn the toxins ravaging his lungs and blood. For the rest? He\'ll need a balanced diet and a lot of rest." She pointed at his missing arm. "There is nothing I can do about it. But didn\'t the shadow stalker report that the goblin town produces mechanical equipment?"

She shrugged as she softly placed Durgrim on the table.

"They might know how to make prostheses. Now leave. I\'ll try my best to save him."

He nodded, leaving her a few words of encouragement as he lowered his head in gratitude. Then, he returned to his subjects.

Once before the demonic altar, he gazed and pointed a determined finger west.

"Prepare our army. We\'ll visit the goblin town tomorrow and offer them to become our subordinates. We\'ll raid the place if they refuse and take in the regular citizens."

Then, his eyes narrowed into slits as he gazed at his shadow.

"Come out and report what you learned about the city\'s defense to the others. I\'ll contact that lord in the meantime."

As his words hung heavy in the air, his shadow swirled and rose.

The figure of the shadow stalker condensed and bowed before he recounted everything he had learned while hiding in the guard\'s shadow.

Meanwhile, Adam went to his lord\'s house, leaving them one last command.

"Store the cart and the barrels. We\'ll drink their content after we defeat those bastards."