The next morning, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the broken windows, illuminating the chaotic yet satisfying scene within the palace. The Kingdom of Elara, a bastion of light, was now completely under the control of darkness. The screams had faded, leaving behind an eerie silence and the pungent scent of blood.
I stood in the throne room, feeling the surging mana within my body. Last night, the Queen's "restoration" not only brought immense pleasure but also allowed me to absorb a significant amount of life force, significantly strengthening me. The Queen herself had now been moved to a special prison chamber, under Lilith's close supervision. She would be a constant source of abundant energy for me in the future.
"My Master," Lilith appeared, bowing respectfully. Her expression remained neutral, but I could sense a subtle satisfaction in her demeanor. "All resistance has been crushed. The city is completely ours. What should we do next?"
I looked at Lilith, then surveyed the ravaged cityscape outside. "The first order of business is cleanup. I don't intend to live in a ruin. And after that..." I glanced at the system interface. "I need resources."
TING!
[New Quest: Establish Control (0/100%) - Consolidate power within the Kingdom of Elara. Reward: 500 EXP, 50 Demon Essence, Title: 'Lord of the Underworld'.]
[Side Quest: Gather Resources (0/5000 units) - Scavenge for resources within the Kingdom of Elara. Reward: 100 EXP, 30 Demon Essence.]
A cruel smile stretched across my lips. "Lilith, order the demons to begin looting. Bring back everything of value. Gold, jewels, weapons, magical artifacts... everything."
"As you wish, My Master," Lilith replied, a glint of greed in her eyes. "Should we... 'collect' more slaves, My Lord?"
I considered this for a moment. Slaves. They would be a source of life force and also labor. "Yes, but only those with potential. Especially mages, or women with... exceptional physiques."
Lilith bowed, her smile widening. "I understand, My Master. You will not be disappointed."
While Lilith departed to carry out my orders, I turned my attention to Elara. She still lay in my private chamber, curled up on the bed. Though I had manipulated her will with Soul Command, she was still a light mage, and witnessing the destruction of her kingdom had deeply affected her.
I sat down beside her, my hand gently stroking her golden hair. Elara shivered slightly, her hazy blue eyes looking at me.
"You see, Elara," I said softly, my voice low. "Your kingdom has fallen. Those who claimed to protect you could do nothing. Only I, Azazel, truly wield power."
She didn't react. I closed my eyes, activating Mana Sense. I felt the faint mana flowing through her body. It was light magic, but it was now tainted with a touch of my darkness.
"You will be a part of this empire," I continued. "And you will help me build it."
I decided to probe into Azazel's old knowledge regarding light magic. I wanted to know if there was a way to utilize this light mana for my own purposes. I focused on the memories related to magic, and a startling discovery emerged.
[Discovery: Elara's light mana can be refined and converted into Dark Mana. Conversion Rate: 10 units of Light = 1 unit of Dark.]
My eyes snapped open. This was an incredibly important discovery! This meant Elara wasn't just a temporary energy source; she could be a dark mana factory for me!
"Excellent..." I murmured, a radiant smile spreading across my face. "Elara, you truly are a treasure."
I looked down at her, a new light gleaming in my crimson eyes. I would not only drain her mana, but corrupt it, transforming her pure source of light into dark power for myself. This would be the ultimate humiliation for this kingdom of light.
I stood up. I needed to speak with Lilith about this discovery. We would need a special area to "refine" Elara.
Stepping out of the room, I surveyed the palace. With every step, I felt my power solidifying. The Kingdom of Elara had fallen. A new empire was rising from the ashes. And I, Azazel, would be its Lord, ushering in a new era of sin and desire.