Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Eyes blazing, Adam slammed the table. Glass shattered, wine spilling to coat the floor in a fragrant burgundy. Amidst the splinters flying before his grimace, his voice echoed—forceful, commanding.

"There won’t be any contract! Not before you explain how you knew I’d get your map and why me out of the million lords."

Astaroth raised his palm before his companion could rise in outrage. Then, he spoke, his voice composed. "Such a waste for this delicate wine..." He sighed, his eyes narrowing. "Do you think yourself so important that the world revolves around you? No, Adam. The map is just one of the many cursed items we left in the realms thousands of years ago."

The corner of his lips rose in a half-mocking grin. "Call it fate, destiny, or luck. But the truth is, we had no clue you existed before you found it." He shrugged. "As for why... wouldn’t you watch a weak ant conquer a kingdom, then journey through hell, all to return as a dragon? Hahaha. Not that I want to mock your hardships, but your adventures were like a cool breeze in this realm of sulfur, relaxing and amusing."

His grin broadened. "Especially when you tore our old rulers’ bodies to shreds. What a grandiose sight it was!"

Adam twisted his lips and clicked his tongue. "Weren’t you one of them as the crowned prince of hell? And we both know they were just fake imitation born from their discarded bodies."

"They were." Astaroth reached before him. Flames erupted, and a new bottle of wine appeared in his palm. He uncorked it, bringing it to his lips. Then, he continued. "It doesn’t matter. Seeing them dying at the hands of someone weaker was pure bliss, which brings us back to my new contract offer."

His voice grew solemn as the four other demon nobles’ faces hardened. "I told you the demon kings don’t want anyone to leave their realm for a reason: they’re waiting for our previous rulers, the real deal, to return. In the fierce struggle over scraps, they raised warriors—an army to resume their infernal war where it had left off eons ago."

He extended the wine bottle toward Adam, gesturing for him to have a drink as his voice deepened. "Enjoy life’s fleeting pleasures before they become ash on your tongue because they are returning. And when they do, Satan will enslave reality itself."

Adam grabbed the bottle. He remained silent, watching the liquid swirl through the greenish glass. Then, he took a gulp and exhaled. "I know. They’ll come for me first... But didn’t the gods defeat them in the past? What makes you think it’d be different?"

Astaroth raised a brow. "That immortal head told you? Let me be blunt, then. Chaos and order allied to defeat them. Most primordials are now gone, banished outside this universe, or sealed. They have no chance." He sighed. "On my side, their return condemns me to remain a mere crowned prince. I want more, much more."

Green flames ignited in his eyes, demonic essence roaring in the room. "I offer you salvation—a future for you and your loved ones." He stretched his hand, followed by Aamon, Barbatos, Rashaverak and Pruflas. "Join the wild hunt. Together, we’ll kill the demon kings and stop the devils’ descent."

Adam took another gulp, then returned the bottle. Closing his eyes, he pondered Astaroth’s words. The alliance didn’t seem half bad since they shared the same goal. But trusting demons? From the very first day, he knew this was folly.

However, an outright rejection didn’t serve his interest either. Information he needed, information he’ll get.

He frowned, brows twitching and lip bitten. "I don’t know. Your offer seems sound, but I need time to consider it. Rather, something else worries me."

Astaroth chuckled. "What can worry you more than the vision of a universe set aflame? Oh, right... You’ll die before it happens."

"It might happen tomorrow or in a millennium, for all I know." Adam clicked his tongue. "The future is uncertain, so I’d rather focus on the present. Zepar. I want to know where he is."

"That unsavory mongrel?" Astaroth glanced at Adam, particularly his lower back, with a slight twitch of his lips.

Adam clenched his jaw. "There are things I don’t like to joke about. Forget the alliance if you say a single word of the crap you’re thinking."

"Well... he’s known for having certain preferences1." Astaroth coughed, then quickly waved the topic away under Adam’s intensifying glare. "Forget I said anything. He’s with the other nobles—supervising one of the demon kings’ war camps."

"He’s not." Aamon cut him off, smirking. "I overheard he’s heading to Forneus’ former territory. Humph. We should have burned it to the ground as soon as he died. Look now. His influence survived, and mentally ill demons began to rebel, talking about love and whatnot."

Adam’s eyes widened. ’I’m sure that’s where Luna is! That bastard is targeting her again. I won’t let it happen!’

Before he could ask when Zepar would reach her or the location of Forneus’ former territory, Astaroth continued with concerning news.

"I suggest you stay clear of the war camps I mentioned. They don’t house demons alone. Baal’s insidiousness has no limit. Humans and demons learned this saying in blood, tears, and fire. He passed a Qliphoth as a demonic altar, then planted it in your territory, hoping you’d grow powerful enough to turn it into a gateway to the demon realm. Burning it saved your city, but also earned you more enemies. I don’t know how he knew you’d come, but this army’s only purpose is to kill you. And trust me, between the kings themselves and the dozen mythical figures, they have more firepower than necessary to erase a lone divinity."

"I knew the tree was a trap!" Adam clenched his fist in victory, even though he only had suspicions and always feared he had burned it for nought. Then, he raised a brow. "The other lords?"

"And more. I even spotted a divine fool with three eyes. He bosses demons with contempt as if he were in his pantheon, asking until our ears bled when the Victorious Buddha would invade the realm." Barbatos snorted. "I found it beneath me to answer that fool. But I must admit he sends chills down my spine."

Adam exhaled heavily. Who in their right mind would target Wukong but someone on his level? He, on the other hand, would think twice before provoking the monkey king in a duel—perhaps even thrice before he gave up on this idea.

’I’d better trust them on this one. But these foolish lords.’ His Adam’s apple twitched in his dry throat as he swallowed the curses he wanted to hurl at them.

"How many lords remain?" He pushed on his knees, his black and white kimono fluttering as he stood up.

"Out of hundreds of millions, no more than fifty lords remain, including you, of course." Astaroth shrugged. "A pity very few seized this new life to unshackle themselves of worldly rules like you did. I respect you for that, you know? But enough unrelated questions."

He stretched out his hand again. "Are you with us?"