Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Dark and white strands of silky hair danced in the demon realm’s scalding winds as Adam cleaved through the sky. Map in hand, he followed the blazing arrow, passing over sulfuric rivers, crooked forests, and red barren plains.

Demonic beasts and fish barred their fangs at his passage, powerless to reach him. Avian creatures, with thin legs ending in talons as lengthy as blades, dark feathered wings glinting with a metallic hue, and eyes smoldering like embers, intercepted him a few times, only for their putrid blood to drizzle on the ground, followed by their cleanly hewn limbs.

Soon, the ground beasts’ eyes sparkled, understanding that the demon flying was much more powerful than they were. But more importantly, that rare food rained in his tracks.

Rivers stirred, the ground rumbled, beasts followed, and Adam let out a hollow laugh. No wonder demonic lords couldn’t survive the first week. Tier three beasts prowled in the plain’s western reach, dangerous but manageable until he left their territory a kilometer later to stumble on tier six devouring plants. The beasts’ strength felt like a lottery...with a single prize—violent death, devoured alive with no one to hear your screams but other demons who planned to do the same.

Of course, he would have managed if he hadn’t escaped. ’Probably not. I landed inside Baal’s territory...’ He rolled his eyes before he scrunched his nose slightly.

Scents of molten rocks, charred wood, and burnt flesh registered, adding to his grimace until an inferno of green fire broke the monotony of the barren plain and sliced through his reminiscence.

Wind ruffled his kimono as he flapped his wings faster.

Tilted towers loomed over a ruined castle. Forlorn remains of demonic gargoyles beneath their tilted roofs whispered of an era of opulence, now replaced by rubble that dripped as if the very stones bled.

A purgatory blazed, engulfing ancient houses. Thatch turned into dark smoke along with wood, while stones melted. Flames rose in the streets like walls, drawing the pattern of a demonic pentacle. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

From his position, it looked like an elegant demon grinned in the middle of a five-branched star. Soon, nothing would stand. But why didn’t the fire devour the dilapidated castle?

No! It didn’t matter. Only Luna did. And she was in danger.

Chaos wafted into dark streams from the corner of his narrowed eyes as he rushed over the collapsed city walls. Flames licked his unblemished skin, yet he sweated—because of her. ’Faster. Faster!’

Like a meteoric dragon, he burst through the city, landing in front of the castle. His feet screeched on burning ground, his ragged breath letting out steam. Blood boiling, worries devouring him, he swung his hammer at the closed gate.

CRACK

The orichalcum rammed against ancient wood. Splinters burst around as the hinges shattered with a metallic groan. Morsels exploded before it could even topple inside, revealing the unholy spectacle at the end of the corridor in a derelict hall.

Through the debris, Adam’s eyes widened at dozens of burned demons. They prostrated, body shivering, voice cracking into powerless sobs, mixing with their blood toward someone or something hidden behind the walls.

"We pledge you allegiance, lord. But please, don’t hurt the priestess."

His eyes moved to what they were gazing at. And there he saw a hand, wrapped in a loose red shirt, gripping a hooded figure by the neck. The figure’s slender fingers clutched the hand, trying to pry it open, in vain.

The world turned red as the ground shattered under his stomp. He rushed forward, gouging ravines into the stones. "Take your hands off her!"

Spite flew from his mouth as he battled the urge to command his entire might to obliterate the enemy. His hammer would have to do. A crushing death with not a single bone intact.

Everyone snapped in his direction, confusion, hope, and fear soaking the air. He ignored the demons, locking on the one wearing a feathered helmet engraved with a siren’s ears, an elegant red shirt beneath a sleeveless cuirass. Metallic cuisses protected his frilled brown pants that stopped at his calves.

Adam scrutinised the demon’s manly features, angular jaws, and trimmed moustache. He could have believed he was a human dandy from the exploration era on Earth if he didn’t know better. But the demon’s clawed feet fooled no one, not to mention Luna’s description of the man that haunted her nights.

The description of Zepar, the great duke of the demon realm.

Zepar returned his gaze, a smirk playing on his lips. He raised his left hand, his long sword humming, and the blade shining against the figure’s neck.

"Take another step if you want to see her head roll on the ground."

Adam paused, only a few centimeters separating him from Zepar, who stood in front of a dusty throne. He cursed, disgusted by the demon—disgusted by himself.

Shouldn’t he use his powers to save the person he loved? And yet, he thought about the consequences first.

’Does Luna weigh less than my goals?’ He clenched his jaw, lowering his hammer.

"Let her go. If you want a bargain, I’ll give you one. But touch her again, and I’ll make you regret ever drawing breath in this cursed realm."

Zepar raised a brow, his smirk broadening. "Haven’t seen a cutie like you in a while. I would have loved to corrupt you in exchange for this wench’s life if you weren’t a member of this group of mad zealots." He shook his head with a soft sigh. "However, I’m afraid I must decline your offer."

Adam’s knuckles whitened around his hammer, but Zepar continued before he could speak.

"Who is she to dare try to revive Forneus’ lunacy after I destroyed it decades ago? Demons need no love, only greed."

He gripped the figure’s hood, causing the demons behind to wince, pleading for her safety.

Adam trembled, his essence almost flaring out as Zepar removed the hood. Then, the rage, the worries... everything vanished.

Eyes wide, he scrutinised the plump demoness’ purple hair in muted silence. Not Luna. Had he been wrong?

"Who is she?" he muttered under his breath.

"Weren’t you trying to save her?" A deep furrow creased Zepar’s brow.

Behind them, the demons’ lips curled into smirks as another voice reverberated.

"Just another wench—like the thousands you’ve stained with your dirty claws!"