Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Eyes wide, he watched the eleven-year-old girl rush to him. Her dress fluttered as she lunged at his neck. Despite the demons' threatening glares, she giggled cutely.

"We finally meet!" She touched his scaled neck, awe filling her voice. "I expected a scary demon, but you look so cool. Almost like a human dragon from those games!"

Adam shuddered in her hug for a second before he patted her long scarlet hair and nodded.

"I'm glad to see you so full of life, Mimi. I've also wondered what you looked like, and I'm not disappointed. A true beauty in the making."

Her face turned redder than a tomato as she hid it against his chest.

"Really?" She muttered, her eyes sparkling.

Of all the scenes she had imagined, reality was much better. Her brother was so cool with his glowing scales, and his army looked super strong, with the humans, elves, blue giants and djinns wielding elemental powers.

Meanwhile, Adam felt two burning eyes drilling into his back. From the corner of his eye, he saw Luna munching on her lips and drawing her finger across her neck.

'Why are you jealous of a kid?!' He rolled his eyes, pulling back from the hug before Luna reduced another man's crotch to ash.

Then, he gazed into Mimi's hazel eyes and at the coordinated army approaching behind her.

Catching his gaze, she introduced them.

"I already told you about my amazons. I have twenty thousand of them now!" She pointed toward the only man leading their march. "Oh! And this is Havi, the mythical guy I summoned from Loki's horn!"

Adam nodded at Havi and the bronze armored ladies approaching before his eyes narrowed at the sound of heavy wheels digging into the ground. Behind the amazon archers, he saw a hundred ballistas engraved with mystical symbols.

Mimi chuckled and continued.

"We brought our siege weapons, but I don't see yours, big brother." She pointed at the eighteen Jotuns. "Are those blue giants carrying them?"

"Mimi." Adam started, his brows twitching and a burning blush creeping onto his face. "You see, we focused more on magic and soldiers' equipment... So, yeah... I have no siege weapons."

He whistled and pointed at the glaring Luna, desperate to deflect the shame.

"Look at this big sister! She's the most beautiful demon you'll ever see. Why don't you befriend her while we prepare for the battle?"

Luna stepped forth and ran a hand through her silk-like green hair as if to emphasize his words against a rival.

"Come, brat. I'll show you the difference between a kid and me."

"Oh?" Mimi gulped at Luna's out-of-this-world curves. Then, determination ignited in her eyes. "I won't lose against you, big sister."

As sparks flew where their gazes met, Adam slipped away to join Havi and the other leaders.

As they planned for the unfair battle, War Machine, Sir Drufus, and the eighteen other lords gathered.

A sea of two hundred thousand fully equipped soldiers stood proudly behind them. Ballistas and magic cannons manned by mages lined the rear as a few soldiers drummed a war rhythm. Bolstered by the sound, the soldiers eagerly formed neat battalions and struck their intricate spears against the soft soil.

Meanwhile, Drufus crossed his arms over his white chiton and laughed at Adam's and Mimi's pitiful army.

"We outnumber them seven to one. There is no way we'd lose with your equipment, War Machine."

War Machine smirked, his golden armor glinting under the sunlight.

"You're too modest. Heracles can shatter their lines alone. Victory is ours."

Despite his confidence, he shuddered as he looked at an over two-meter tall man. His muscles were the epitome of aesthetic perfection, seemingly carved from metal and giving him an unmatched presence.

Crowning his torso like armor, the impenetrable hide of the Nemean Lion glistened under the sun.

A quiver of arrows releasing purple fumes—the Hydra's poison—dangled at his hip as his fingers trembled around his crude wooden club.

"They really think Achilles can beat me?" Heracles hissed in suppressed anger as he retrieved Tyr's hand from Hippolyta's magical belt. "Let's decide who's the strongest Greek hero today."

However, a lithe and muscular man came to stand before him. His colorful clothes caught the light as he planted Gae Bolg between them.

"Don't ruin Ragnar's plan, will you?" A brilliant smile split his youthful face as he continued. "Achilles is mine. You go after Wukong and Karna while Sigurd beheads that fake dragon."

Seeing Heracles snort, he chuckled, his red, dark, and golden hair swirling over his trembling shoulders. "Don't worry, Cu Chulainn can't lose in a spear fight."

Behind them, Sigurd gripped Balmung and walked to the center.

Uninterested in their discussion, his gaze pierced through hundreds of kilometers to scrutinise Adam.

"I won't let an evil dragon terrorise the people again. You'll join Fafnir in death."

His long hair glowed like the sun over the dragon blood smearing his intricate armor as he took position.

Finally, Ragnar talked leisurely with his lord, ignoring the Greek alliance to focus on their gains.

"Don't focus on the war too much, Kael." His deep voice echoed as his facial tattoos reflected the other heroes' brilliance. "We have two goals: kill Adam, then the Greek suckers."

Kael nodded, his eyes narrowing into slits.

"I informed our allies already. They'll fight half-heartedly until Heracles weakens."

Ragnar patted his shoulders and nodded.

"Good. While they fight in the middle, our troops will hide and circle Adam's army by the sides." He smirked. "We'll strike his rear line, avoid losses, and be the sole winners. Our agent will also strike and join us at that moment."

As the wind carried their ominous words, Merlin chuckled. Leaning on his crystalline staff, his whispers echoed with mischief.

"Though I hate her, Mab has hidden my presence well. I guess they're in for a surprise. Hahaha."

"There is nothing funny." Wukong clenched his jaw. "I don't understand why you want me to stop the pretty boy instead of that beast wearing lion skin."

Merlin shrugged, his eyes narrowing in focus and his words thundering in the monkey king's ears.

"Because he has the last piece. Trust Adam, and let me handle the rest."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Just like that, the two armies organised their ranks before the soldiers' steps thundered on the vast plain, the unfair battle ready to rage.

But Adam smirked, unaware he'd face Heracles in the first round, much less the northern heroes' reinforcements.

"No mercy!"