Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

"NO! What did you do?!"

He lunged to his feet, veins bulging on his neck and eyes reddening, only to be struck by a sensation of weakness and collapse.

Sprawled on the ground, he could only glare at Tiamat to express his dissatisfaction as his consciousness slipped away.

Deprived of his access to the outside world, he still felt his body squirm. Like thousands of miniature workers scurrying through his system to spread Tiamat's chaotic factor, he felt his skin tingle and a sharp pain spread through his back.

In this state of semi-consciousness, he endured for a brief moment, hours or days. He didn't know anymore. But one thing was clear: the goddess forced him into a unique path no one ever trod, one that might bring immense benefits or disastrous consequences.

And finally, a familiar sound forced his mind to awaken.

DING

[Talent's daily use available. Use: Yes/No]

"Ugh."

Groggy after the bizarre experience, he pushed himself off the cold, stony ground, clutching his head to relieve the splitting headache assaulting him.

FLUTTER

A sudden noise from behind alerted him, forcing his glued eyes to snap open in wariness.

He frowned, seeing no one. Yet, this noise followed each of his movements, forcing his eyes to focus on his back.

"???"

There, he saw them: a pair of short demonic wings vibrating with the wind.

Then, he noticed the sparse scales covering his collarbones, prompting him to pull his robe and observe his torso, an icy shiver running down his spine.

'I really evolved... but into what?"

He touched the scales covering his organs, feeling their smoothness and noticing the absence of reptile-like division.

'Did my skin harden in some places?'

Hope swelled in his heart.

He had accepted the imp form because it was somewhat cute. But a bizarre body filled with bumps? No way!

After inhaling a deep bowl of fresh air to calm down, he warily observed his surroundings, noticing a few changes with his lord badge altar.

Replacing the green ones, dark engravings pulsed on the marble, releasing flames in a protective dance around the badge.

Intrigued, he touched it to see if anything else changed.

Draconian Demonic lord's hut LV3

HP: 2000

Materials required to level up: 200 units of stone, 300 units of wood, 10 units of iron and a population of 10 tier-two citizens. Territory must reach the Iron II rank.

"Why did the hp and requirement change?!"

A terrible feeling clutching his heart and eyes enlarging, he turned in alarm as a voice reverberated.

"Calm down. It's just a side effect of your evolution."

'She's still here?! Doesn't she have a godly realm or something to manage?'

He gawked, seeing her lying comfortably in his bed and finding an explanation for why he slept on the ground.

"No? I escaped Marduk's seal using the contract option. Those fools thought they could keep me away. Hahaha! They only brought me back!"

She placed a finger over her smile, eyes slipping up as if she had revealed too much already.

Then, she waved her hand and yawned.

"Don't mind me. I'll use your bed until you level that beggar's house. Don't forget to bring me food and don't waste your time trying to ask me for goodies. In fact, act as if I'm not here, or they'll start crying. If you understand, good night!"

'Give me my bed back if I have to act as if you're not here!'

"I can still hear your thoughts."

He paled as her lazy comment entered his ears.

Like a furious gale, he stormed out and sat on the log before the campfire.

He passed his hand over his face, adapting to the flood of novelties as he observed the colossal structure spurting energy like a fountain.

'Well, it's a demonic altar now.'

He lingered for a moment, breathing the altar's energy in and relaxing under the morning sun's gentle rays before focusing on his interface.

Name: Adam

Race: Drake Imp

Affinity: chaotic, demonic energy

Talent: E grade (Upgradable): I'm a gamer!

Job: /

Class: Chaos Druid

LVL: 12

Exp: 2146/7000

HP: 400/400

Vitality: 30->40

Strength: 30->40 (+2)

Agility: 30->40 (+5)

Demonic essence: 21->31

Free attribute points: 0

Items: Bandit dagger

Note: Three additional points are obtainable because of your unique race. Free attribute points acquisition doubled upon reaching the second tier. Proceed with the quest. YES/NO.

Eyes enlarging, he shoved his head against the window in shock.

He hadn't expected that a tier advancement would yield so many benefits, making him realise something of critical importance.

'Leveling up alone isn't enough. Even a high-level lord would be no match for me because of the difference in stat points.!'

Tucking his fingers around his chin, he pressed on yes.

[Beat a boss of the second tier with your subjects.]

[Reward: Everyone who reached level twelve or higher will tier up.]

[Failure: You'll stay weaklings.]

"Alright! We'll focus on scouting the bandit camp and raid it today!"

He found it a pity that the hobgoblin didn't meet the requirement but didn't dwell on details. They had to move forward, help the imps evolve and build defences before the grace period ended on the eigth day.

With his future tasks outlined, he pressed yes to use his talent, making the familiar wheel pop before his eyes.

However, he frowned at it.

'Why is it broader and has more parts than yesterday?'

As the wheel's needle rattled in his ears, a tremor rocked his shoulders as he noticed it jumped from F to E grade.

'Do I need to evolve to increase it?!'

Did it mean that Tiamat's evolution path, with its many evolutions, was best suited to him?

He cast aside all the what-ifs threatening to ruin his mood and the dread at his almost catastrophic choice and jumped in joy, fists raised above his fiery dark hair.

"Give me an SSR draw to celebrate the increase!"

Face flushed with excitement and heart racing against his chest, he scrutinised the slowing wheel and potential items he could get.

When it stopped, his eyes enlarged at the familiar item he had used to troll others... because it was laughably powerful for its level!