Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

When he approached them, Zephyr and Zane rushed to him. Grinning, they offered a military salute before their mischievous voice echoed.

"As instructed, we drummed on their walls and howled all night. We saw them become paler and more irritated with each passing night." Zane raised his nose and puffed his chest. "Are you proud, big brother?"

Meanwhile, a heavy pouch clinked as Zephyr handed it to Adam.

"I gathered the twelve badges from this expedition, big brother. Take them"

Upon hearing them, the bubbling anger that had coursed through his veins a second ago cooled. His other generals' smiles and crossed arms also helped his narrowed eyes to relax.

He sighed, ruffling the two ruffians' hair before strapping the pouch to his belt.

"Well done, little imps."

Then, he turned to the others, a frown creasing his brow and his voice echoing the situation's solemness.

"A storm is brewing and closing on us."

Everyone's smile receded as they leaned forward, their hands moving to their blade's pommels.

After calming them down, he explained how the lord's alliance threatened them.

He scratched his head and clicked his tongue.

"I'll never accept defeat, not against cheaters!" His knuckles whitened, and his voice became as sharp as a fiery knife. "Those are my commands: gather the army and follow Achilles in the wilderness. Listen to him and learn his formations and tactical insight as you level up."

He bit his lips, his pupils trembling for a second before he closed his eyes and sighed.

"I know you just returned, but we don't have a second to spare."

Meanwhile, Luna's brows twitched. A barely noticeable trace of unwillingness lacing her voice, she stepped forward.

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"What about you?" Her eyes slipped aside, and her ears burned. "You're not sounding like you'll accompany us."

He shook his head in answer.

"I already have plans with Karna in an hour and probably won't return for at least three days."

His eyes softened as he saw her fight against her twisting lips to keep them straight. After all, the last few days didn't allow them to interact much, and he, too, wanted to spend some time with her.

However, the involvement of the other lords forced an immediate change in their plans. Therefore, he pointed at each of them.

"Even if we started our journey three weeks ago for the oldest, I can leave for so long because I trust each of you with my life. We started as lesser demons scorned by their own species and the rest of the realms because of our origins."

A soft smile stretched his lips, and his voice took an epic turn, like the ones in games. "But we fought and struggled to shatter the chains of weakness binding us. Now, we're all Demon Barons, and soon, we'll become demon kings together!"

He inhaled, noticing the blood rushing into their reddening faces, including Luna's.

More than that, her heart drummed in her ears, and her eyes sparkled with something more than inspiration.

"Cough."

She coughed to hide her emotions and backed a step.

Then, she pointed to the mountain and yelled commandingly.

"You heard him. Let's meet Achilles and follow this training maniac's instruction for a week!"

Everyone's lips curled into knowing smiles. Amused chuckles escaped their lips next as they waved their hands on their way to gather their battalions.

Simultaneously, Luna escaped through the chaos, a topaz necklace, earrings, and ring displaying a dragon glistening under the morning sun.

Upon seeing them and his subjects' reactions, Adam clicked his tongue.

'These fools! They've been throwing us weird glances since I gifted her the topaz dragon set crafted by Durgrim.' His brows twitched, and his eyes rolled. 'I want to smack them. And Durgrim, too, for spreading rumors!'

Still, his chest warmed at their shenanigans. After all, how dull would life be without those kinds of innocent dramas?

A smile stretching his lips, he walked to the leader of the three hundred law enforcers he had permanently garrisoned in the village.

A few short sentences were enough to make him understand what he wanted.

Without hesitation, the demon left to care for the thousands of new humans still waiting behind the five subjugated lords.

With everything tied, he retrieved the pouch, entered his house, and went to the altar protecting his lord's badge.

Standing before it, he touched its cold surface, causing the familiar fiery panel to appear. Of course, he ignored

Territory status

Rank: Iron I

Area: 104km²

Materials required to rank up: an iron I or three iron III lord badge, 400 units of iron, 4000 units of wood, and 4000 units of stones.

Face flushed in anticipation, his finger pierced the air and smashed the upgrade button.

However, the trembling air, rumbling ground, and loud noises he had expected didn't happen. Instead, he clicked his tongue as, like last time, the only difference was the words and numbers hovering in the panel.

"Tsk. At least use a sound notification to give me a sense of achievement. Wait..." His eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "Don't tell me there aren't rewards for being the first to reach the bronze rank."

Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his fists tightened.

'Shit! Someone already claimed them!'

After a few curses and a silent promise not to neglect his territory's rank, he refocused on the panel.

Territory status

Rank: Bronze III

Area: 154km²

Materials required to rank up: a bronze III or ten iron I lord badges, 1500 units of iron, 5000 units of wood, 5000 units of bricks, and 10 units of earth, water, wind, and fire gems.

He shrugged at the requirement's increase and switched to the building's interface.

Smirking, he smashed the upgrade button without checking the price until a notification forced him to stop.

[Territory's rank not high enough to upgrade.]

Draconian Demonic lord manor LV12

HP: 88.000

Materials required to level up: 3000 units of bricks, 3500 units of wood, 900 units of iron, and a population of 15 tier 3 citizens. Territory must reach the bronze II rank.

Simultaneously, the wooden floor rumbled and cracked under his feet. Dust swirled, creating a grand spectacle of glistening particles that caused his heart to race.

Smooth slabs emerged to replace the wooden planks as the walls crumbled. Thicker ones, entirely made of pristine bricks, rose in their place to separate the added rooms.

However, his eyes narrowed into slits as the phenomenon didn't end. Instead, two wings rose on the sides, transforming his house into a noble's manor grandeur than the King of Heroes'.

Statues of dragons and demons rose on the balconies and roofs, adding a stylish yet threatening allure to the place.

His heart almost exploded when he rushed through the elegant corridors and counted a dozen different sleeping rooms. When he added the study, permeating the air with the scent of fresh wood and the now enormous kitchen and hall, he pinched his cheek and forgot about the incoming war.

'I feel like a real lord now. One that has inherited a family manor from the middle age that would cost dozens of millions!'

An eager grin split his face as he noticed the upgraded beds and the furniture decorating his spacious room: a long mirror, a wooden bathtub, a closet, and the same sofa he had retrieved from the King of Heroes' manor.

After touring the place for ten minutes, he sighed and left for the eastern walls.

"Time to meet with Karna and see the result of my training. I must also level up and rush to my fourth evolution before Sir Drufus declares war on me."

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AN: Now we can start the next arc! I hope you're ready to read what Adam will find!