Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

As a knot of dread tightened in his gut, new notifications flashed before his eyes.

[The gods curse you for your victory and Baal for his failed plan.]

[Baal laughs and calls out Zeus and Odin for their defeat despite their extensive cheating.]

Adam clenched his jaw, sweat sticking his armor to his skin, his fist trembling over the window.

"Keep mocking each other. I need a few more minutes!"

With each passing second, he saw Shihan's wounds close and her rigid skin regain colors and suppleness. He was close, so close...

Yet, the gods didn't seem in the mood for pleasantries, especially not Marduk.

[Marduk vows to obliterate you for trying to revive his mother's powers. He also declares hostile intentions on the Northern and Greek pantheons for their stupid idea.]

"Shit! They'll kick me out the moment he rewards me!"

His breath caught in his throat as tears of frustration welled in his eyes. Would he fail in the end?

Reluctance animating his gaze, he read the last notification before his eyes widened.

[Tiamat flicks a middle finger at Marduk, calling him a stingy bastard undeserving to be her son. She requests an additional reward since the leg is hers in the first place.]

Hope sparkled in his eyes as he clutched Shihan's hand. She'd get enough time if Tiamat forced them into their usual negotiations.

As he anticipated the answer, his eyes almost bulged out of their sockets at the next messages.

[Baal shakes his finger and agrees, asking what kind of terrible son dismembers his mother only to reward her contractor with her leg. The other demon kings explode in laughter, calling Marduk more demonic than they are.]n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"This bastard! He wanted me to reach this place. But why?"

Adam's eyes narrowed in confusion and anger, the hateful sensation of being manipulated making him tremble. Even worse, mystery still shrouded Baal's insidious intentions.

Though annoying, he knew he wouldn't get the answer. But more importantly, he had his own backers to keep the demon king in check. So, he shoved Baal's agenda in a corner of his mind to focus on their negotiation and Shihan.

He rolled his eyes a second later.

Marduk and the Mesopotamian gods used every righteous word to explain how they had saved the universe from Tiamat's chaos. They continued, aggressiveness and ridicule permeating their words as they explained how a defeated foe lost ownership of his items—including Tiamat's body parts.

Though most gods agreed, each minute brought Shihan closer to resurrection, thanks to Tiamat's allies' fierce rebuttals and Baal's disgusting help.

And after five minutes, Marduk cut the discussion short with angry threats.

[Marduk hurls Tiamat's right leg, promising to dismember her once more. He urges his contractor to take action, offering him...]

[Divine item awarded: Tiamat's right leg.]

Tiamat chose this moment to send him a private message that made him roar with laughter.

[Tiamat: Search for it, dog-like son! I'm not selfish like you and forsook my chance to retrieve my weapon to secure Uruk's golden standard! Gilgamesh will never fight under you. Hahaha!]

A warm sensation spread through Adam's tightening chest.

'She invested everything in me without regard for the cost.' His eyes narrowed into determined slits. 'I can't disappoint her!'

Meanwhile, Marduk slammed his fist on his armrest, his voice dripping with venom.

"You think you're smart, Tiamat? Gilgamesh is just one among many monstrous figures in our pantheon!"

Teeth gritted and storms raging in his eyes, he retrieved a cloak made of animal pelts.

"His best friend, Enkidu!" Then, he retrieved an amulet made from the feather of a divine storm bird. "His father, Lugalbanda!"

In his rage, he retrieved a stone figurine representing a grotesque entity. "Asag, the demon of nature and chaos."

"That's too much!" A wise voice reverberated in Marduk's palace, disapproval permeating its tone. "Do you want to ruin the universe?!"

As Marduk froze, the voice continued.

"I'll send Adapa. We already have Ishtar's divine bull. But the monkey is a problem..."

Marduk's eyes narrowed as he dismissed the figurine.

"That's why I wanted to send Asag, Ea. We're in this together..." His lips curled into a smirk. "No, she might hate you more than me after you killed her husband and convinced the other gods to grant me supreme authority. You're the architect of our conflict, so find a solution!"

Ea chuckled in answer.

"Should I have let Apsu kill us all because we kept disturbing his slumber? Hahaha! As for the solution? It's easy, really. I contacted those bothered by the monkey's freedom and desire to oppose the jade emperor." His voice lingered for a second before he thundered.

"Erlang Shen will descend to seal him again!"

As the horrible news reverberated through Marduk's palace, Adam scrutinised the notification hovering before his eyes.

[You'll return to Hestia's realm in five seconds.]

Ignoring his bright red scales and the suffocating heat, he gripped Shihan and cradled her against his chest. Her hot and supple skin brought a smile to his lips. More importantly, the sight of her rising and falling chest filled him with joy.

"Let's go home."

Light particles swirled around them, illuminating Shihan's peaceful face as they disappeared.

The same scene happened on the chaotic battlefield. Light engulfed Adam's subjects, teleporting them before the confused balors.

However, Wukong smirked. "We can't leave without gathering a few freebies."

As he disappeared, his somersault cloud rumbled to life and blurred before the antique city's dissolving walls. Like a beast, it swallowed a hundred carcasses before everyone disappeared in a bright flash.

Adam sighed the next second as the familiar demonic altar greeted his eyes first. His town's clean streets and carefree citizens came next before what remained of his army followed.

Among them, he saw tears streaking down Bart's trembling cheeks.

With a gentle smile, he nodded at him, then his wide-eyed generals and mythical figures before he raised his fist.

"We won! Even better! Shihan is back!"

The air trembled as everyone roared in excitement. Though most didn't know her, Garduck struck his chest while the six teenagers jumped for joy, screaming about their big sister's return. Ifrit closed his eyes and inhaled sharply, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

Meanwhile, a tear sparkled at the corner of Luna's eyes. She wanted to lunge and hug him but forced herself to stay put. Instead, she muttered.

"You turned your wistful idea into reality. S-She's really back..." She covered her mouth, her drumming heart deafening her. Finding a reason, she rushed at him. "Follow me to my house! I must inspect her condition!"