Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

A gentle smile curved Titania’s lips despite the sweat sticking her hair to her face and the searing pain in her severed left arm.

"Thank you, darling. I-I underestimated him..." She lowered her face, her voice turning bitter. "And Mab is still hiding."

Oberon’s white suit and hair ruffled in the wind as he descended from the capital’s hulking tree. His delicate wings, covered in patterns and sprawling mana circuits visible to the naked eye, flapped with softness... A softness contrasted by his narrowed eyes, their golden sheen flaring with barely suppressed rage.

Rage translated into the trembling bow he clutched, and the crown swaying over his head. "Mab can go to hell. You’re more important..."

He bit his lip, his gaze shifting to Titania’s graceless figure. An arm lost, doubting herself, marked by devilish powers—he had never seen her in such a state. No, he didn’t want to see her suffer that much ever again.

He cupped her cheek, feeling her warmth with a tender gaze. Then, he glared at Adam, who had reappeared beside Garduck. "And you, you..."

His tenderness gave way to cold, divine mana erupting from his wings with a rumble. "I’ll take care of you myself. Everything you’ve built, loved, and strived to accomplish will disappear in the ashes of your bones like fleeting memories. Even those won’t remain. I’ll annihilate you thoroughly for the pain you brought to my wife."

"Hahaha!" Adam exploded into genuine laughter, tears welling in the corners of his eyes. "Since when did family matter to you, betrayer of your mother? I’ve heard a few disturbing stories. If not for them, you could have fooled me. But seriously? Locking her up, torture?"

His nose scrunched, his lips pursing. "Another god who’s no different from the others. How can you be terrorised to this day by the person who cradled and cared for you when you were nothing more than a powerless baby? No, Oberon." He opened his arms wide. "Look at your devastated capital, the corpses of innocent fairies littering the streets, and the blood flowing like rivers. This is the outcome of your jealous rule, of your refusal to step out and protect them all."

Oberon’s knuckles turned wide, his ancient bow cracking under his grip. "It doesn’t matter. They would have died under Mab’s rule, anyway. But you can’t see it. You’ve let her insidious magic bewitch you."

He retrieved a branch of the hulking tree, then pressed it against Titania’s severed forearm.

Mana erupted in a swirling dance as the divine wood softened into tissues that squirmed on her wound. They attached themselves, spreading into muscles, veins, and skin until a fresh hand replaced the one she had lost.

After ensuring she wouldn’t suffer any sequelae, he nodded at her, and she returned it with a radiant smile.

Then, his gaze refocused on Adam. "You’re dead already. Your words are of no interest to us."

Adam raised his palms dismissively. "You healed her. So what? If I defeated her once, I can do it again." He slapped Garduck’s broad back, smirking. "And with my friend to distract you, she’ll have no third chance." His eyes narrowed. "You’ll have no second chance, either."

"There won’t be any two against two! You perhaps bested her, but your friend?" A vicious glint flashed in Oberon’s eyes. "I can’t see his wings, nor his energy control."

He raised his glowing hand, the light engulfing the capital in an ethereal cocoon as he thundered. "You’ll fight me until she returns... dragging your friend’s head in her new hand."

Titania’s gaze firmed behind him. "It’ll be two against one by then. Even if Mab ambushes Oberon to help you, his authority negates most of hers."

She nodded at Oberon. "I’ll see you in a few minutes, darling. I can’t wait to put her shadow behind us once and for all."

Oberon pressed his forehead against hers. "I’m sure you will. This time, we’ll erase her for good."

With his words, the cocoon began to shrink. It passed through the remnant of the armies without effect, yet Adam smirked at Garduck, who raised his thumb and muttered. "Nice performance."

"Is it?" Adam shrugged. "I’m just following her script."

"A little too well if you want my opinion." Garduck chuckled as the light passed through him. "We’ll meet again soon... but I guess everything would be over by the time I return." freeweɓnovel.cøm

That was the last thing he managed to say before his muscular body vanished, transported by Oberon’s powers.

As it did, Adam distorted the light’s photons. They waved around him, unable to graze his skin before it made Titania vanish, too.

With her gone, his smirk broadened. No more plays, no more management of essence. Now came the time for cold, calculated rage—for massacre.

Flying across from him, Oberon drew his bow, the golden plated sides sparkling and the carved magic symbols on its surface shimmering softly.

An arrow swirled into existence, its sleek head shining with a sharpness that hummed in the wind. Yet before he could let it loose, his eyes widened.

An ominous sensation gripped his heart, dread bristling his hair. Did Mab... impossible. No! She could! He had to bring Titania back without wasting a second!

Mana flared in his hand again.

However, the sphere didn’t spread. Instead, he swung his bow behind him, a drop of icy sweat dripping down his temple.

Adam had disappeared... and blinked behind him.

BAM

His bow groaned against Adam’s orichalcum hammer, the impact blasting wind and dust in his eyes. His wings flapped, propelling him backwards to mitigate the impact. Yet, even if his arms were fine, his mind reeled in horror. After all, the one who taught him magic was... Mab.

And Adam confirmed his worries with a snort. "You should have seen it coming. No matter what you planned or did, your defeat was ineluctable. Not because of fate—not because of divine will. Because fear became anger, and angry people hate nothing more than to be wrong. I never planned anything but a duel. But Titania?"

His smirk broadened. "I wish her the best of luck and more. Not that it’ll save her."

"You damned wretches!"

As Oberon gnawed on his lips, Titania and Garduck reappeared in a strange world.

They stood on a solid, pink sky. Above them, forests, mountains, and rivers lay upside down in a strange spectacle. Did Oberon change his imaginary world?

Yet, the wonder didn’t last for Titania. Her eyes widened in a split second as a voice she would never forget reverberated across the natural environment.

"Welcome to my domain, court doll. Did you pine for me, I wonder? I, after all, have never let the memory of you wither. Come now. Let us sip again on the venomous tales you once poured into my son’s trusting ears."