As Grog fell, the acrid scent of his blood mingled with the damp, stale air of the dungeon, stirring a primal satisfaction within me. I stood there, feeling power surge through my veins, my crimson eyes reflecting the brutal awakening of a Demon Lord. Elara remained unconscious at my feet, her delicate body now a mere fragile, lifeless mass.
I bent down and lifted her. She felt feather-light, and through the tattered fabric of her clothes, I could feel her smooth skin, cool yet still faintly carrying a human scent. A fierce possessive instinct surged within me. From now on, she was mine.
"Alright, time to get out of this rat hole." I murmured, heading towards the exit.
The dungeon door creaked open, revealing a scene of utter devastation. The fortress, once a symbol of Azazel's power, was now just a ruin. Cracked stone walls, collapsed pillars, and the corpses of both demons and humans lay scattered everywhere. The stench of blood and scorched flesh assaulted my nostrils, yet I felt no revulsion. Instead, it ignited a strange desire: a desire for reconstruction, a desire for domination.
I strode through the crumbling corridors, my heavy footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. Occasionally, I spotted a few low-ranking demons still alive, trembling and hiding in crevices. They were cowards, but I could use them.
"Look up." My voice was deep, carrying the weight of authority.
The demons scrambled to their feet, their beady eyes wide with fear as they looked at me.
"From now on, you belong to me." I activated the Soul Command skill. An invisible wave of dark magic spread, engulfing them. Their eyes instantly lost their panic, replaced by an emptiness, and then by absolute subservience.
"Master!" They prostrated themselves in unison, their voices filled with reverence.
[New Subordinates: Demon Servants (3)]
Good. These three pathetic demons were enough to start with.
"Search for Lilith," I commanded, looking down at Elara in my arms. "And bring this human girl to the most intact chamber you can find."
The demons dutifully obeyed. They scurried off to search, while I continued to explore the fortress. I needed a place to settle, to begin my rebuilding efforts.
Not long after, light footsteps echoed from a less damaged corridor. A lithe figure appeared. Long, platinum hair cascaded down her back, small black horns protruded from her forehead, and retracted bat-like wings rested behind her. This was Lilith, a Succubus. Her beauty was sharp, alluring, with amber eyes that sparkled like embers. She wore a tight leather outfit that accentuated every perfect curve. I could feel the seductive magic radiating from her, but now, it had no effect on me.
Lilith stared at me, her eyes wide with astonishment. She clearly couldn't believe I had escaped my chains and returned with such power. Her subservience was mixed with a faint, uncertain fear.
"My... My Demon Lord?" She whispered, her voice soft as velvet. "You have... awakened."
I gently set Elara down in a relatively clean corner, then stepped closer to Lilith. She didn't retreat, but her body subtly tensed.
"Indeed, Lilith." I stood facing her, close enough to feel her breath on my face. I could see her gaze darting down to Elara, then back to me with a hint of hidden jealousy. "And you, it seems, have survived the battle."
"I... I tried to hold on, My Demon Lord." Lilith bowed her head, but her eyes still furtively watched me.
"Good." I reached out and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. Her skin was soft and warm beneath my fingers. I could feel the tension in her body. "From now on, the supreme power of Demon Lord Azazel has returned. You will serve me absolutely, Lilith. Do you understand what I mean?"
Lilith's amber eyes flickered. She knew what I meant. He, the old Azazel, had treated her as his personal plaything, a tool for carnal desire. But I, Ethan, sensed something different. A deeper control.
"Yes... My Master." Lilith whispered softly, her voice trembling slightly. She had no other choice. Her Succubus instincts told her that before me, she could only submit.
"Good." I released her chin. "Now, lead me to the largest intact chamber in the fortress. And afterwards, bring this human girl there. I need a place to begin rebuilding my empire."
Lilith bowed even deeper. "Yes, My Master. Please follow me."
She led me through other corridors, to a relatively undamaged grand hall. It was spacious, though still dusty and with a few cracks in the walls. I ordered the demon servants to bring Elara in, placing her on a makeshift bed.
"She will be my personal slave," I told Lilith, my gaze cold. "She may prove useful in restoring my mana, and for... other matters."
Lilith looked at Elara with a complex gaze, a mix of slight disdain and a hint of jealousy. "As you wish, My Master."
I sensed the subtle reluctance in her voice, but that was not my concern. I was the Demon Lord. My will was absolute.
TING!
[System Shop has been unlocked!]
I smiled. Everything was slowly falling into place. With my return, Demon Lord Azazel, and the submission of Lilith along with Elara as my new slave, I had taken my first steps. The Kingdom of Elara. That would be my next quest. I wouldn't just conquer it; I would transform it into a part of my empire of sin and desire.