Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Adam rolled his eyes further, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Let me summarise. The lich drained your blood daily in this decrepit temple. Yet, the first thing you want to do after retrieving your freedom is to overthrow the human kingdom. I would have gone with something more... trivial, like a good meal and a delightful night's sleep in the most comfy bed I can find."

Vrashnak's shoulders trembled before his laughter reverberated in the chamber. Then, blood rushed to his eyes, and his jaw clenched as the guttural echo of his voice chilled the air.

"I'll keep it short since you're exhausted. The humans' collaboration with the lich led to my captivity. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Since the east is barren and overflowing with undead, they flock west to plunder our resources. They kill our warriors and enslave our wives and children."

Without giving Adam time to answer, he stretched his broad palm out.

"I've watched your battle and seen the kobold you call a companion. Your actions… they speak for themselves. Let's end centuries of human slavery together."

Despite his passionate speech, Adam's eyes narrowed. It just felt weird for the orc to ask for cooperation just because he saw him fight. True, he had killed the lich who imprisoned him, but was it reason enough?

He shook his head.

"I'll give you an answer after checking on my friends."

"Please do so, brave warrior." Vrashnak nodded and sat back in the darkness of his cell.

With the conversation on hold, Adam massaged his brows on his way to Luna and the others.

Most were sprawled on the ground, their ashen faces recovering colors under Ondine and Luna's gentle care.

Drawn by the sound of his weak steps, Zane raised his thumb as the others rolled their eyes at his words.

"I killed the most skeleton, big brother. Are you proud?"

"Shut up, liar!" Sarah's trembling hand tied around his neck, but she was too weak to apply pressure. Instead, she shook the wide-eyed Zane and continued. "Big sisters Luna and Shihan killed most of them, followed by Bart, Garduck, and Maven. Heck! Even among us, you place second to last before Sylas, who locked himself in the forge instead of training!"

The others nodded while Sylas shrugged.

"You'll all come crawling on your bellies to get my artefacts soon."

As Adam chuckled at their shenanigans, Luna put her warm hands on his shoulders. A soft pressure brought him down as her voice, laden with worries, soothed his conflicted heart.

"Let me help you and..." Her face flushed, and a bright smile curved on her lips. "You've become strong. Where is the imp I taught essence control to?"

"I'm still the same inside. Always been." He brought his scalding forehead against hers and offered her a cheeky smile. "And will continue to be. But don't tell me you dislike my sinfully handsome face."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

She pointed at her own face and giggled.

"You're still far from my level."

"Can't deny that. Hahaha."

A comforting silence settled as she sent a surge of demonic essence through his sick body. Like a ferocious protective beast, it fought the disease back and helped his bleeding organs recover faster.

His essence followed. Spurred by her effort, it rose in a tidal wave of chaotic fire that charred the viruses until his deathly pale skin recovered a sliver of colors.

He heard her release a long, shuddering sigh a moment later and peered into her determined eyes as she spoke.

"That's all I can do for now. You'll recover in a day or two with your powerful body."

With a grateful nod and feeling much better, he wiped the scarlet layer of blood smearing his mouth and chin and rose to his feet. Then, he turned to his generals and summarised Vrashnak's offer.

He saw them frown, exchanging uneasy glances and raising confused palms.

Once he was done, Garduck shook his head.

"We barely survived the lich's cursed mist and dark sun. Even you almost died to it. Yet, he's perfectly fine... Something wrong is going on."

Adam nodded. Those details had struck him, too, but he acted oblivious. After all, the last thing he wanted was to alert a potential powerhouse when everyone was on their knees and gasping for breath.

As a doubtful silence hung in the air, Victoria raised her hand and broke it with a question.

"Maybe he's immune to curses? Think about it. After years of imprisonment and who knows what horror the lich did to him, perhaps his body adapted."

"That's a good point." Bart gazed at Adam's left hand and smiled. "It wouldn't be the first time we see something like that."

Adam tucked his fingers around his chin, a pensive frown creasing his brows.

"A mutation would explain his white skin." He looked at the orc behind them before continuing. "He taught us about the wilderness west of Oikos and their poor opinions of the kingdom. Even if we refuse his cooperation, allying with them to isolate Oikos' capital and disrupt its supply chain is a decent option."

Maven knelt before him, his short figure trembling as he placed his fist over his chest.

"I'll rally the kobold tribes. With your draconic presence and Tiamat's pressure, none will refuse you."

Everyone nodded at him with smiles. The small kobold had shattered the weakness attached to his species by becoming a fiercer warrior with each passing day.

Adam tapped his finger on his chin, a confident smile spreading across his face.

The kobold movements would attract the other groups' attention. They'd naturally come to seek the reason, learn of his war against Oikos, and conquest of the east. By then, they'll join him without him needing to take unnecessary risks with the orc.

Convinced, he waved and asked them to get the temple's chests before he returned to the cell, ready to break the negotiation. But a question lingered. What should he do with Vrashnak?

'It feels wrong to kill or leave him to rot in this place. I guess it'll depend on how he takes my refusal and what he says.'