The following days at Elara Palace were a continuous flurry of activity. With Lilith commanding the Demon Warriors and Demon Servants, the palace and the city's main areas were gradually cleared of debris and corpses. The scent of fresh blood slowly gave way to the musty smell of ancient stone and dark magic.
I spent most of my time in my private chamber, or in the throne room, where I established my new position of dominance. I continued to research and upgrade my skills. With the accumulated Demon Essence, I purchased several more combat and defensive skills, as well as supportive ones like Resource Sense, which allowed me to easily locate mineral deposits or mana-rich areas.
TING!
[Quest: Establish Control (25/100%) - Consolidate power within the Kingdom of Elara.]
[Side Quest: Gather Resources (1500/5000 units) - Scavenge for resources within the Kingdom of Elara.]
Progress was slow but steady. The biggest issue was that my subordinate count was still too low to control an entire kingdom.
"Lilith," I called her into my private chamber. She entered, her expression respectful but her eyes still holding a hint of cunning.
"Yes, My Master?"
"What's the situation with the survivors in the city?" I asked. "And those I ordered captured?"
Lilith offered a slight smile. "I've gathered a few hundred survivors, mostly commoners and some cowardly nobles. They are currently confined in the main plaza. As for your 'special targets,' including about a dozen mages and a few dozen women of remarkable beauty, they have been gathered in the grand cathedral."
"The cathedral?" I raised an eyebrow. "A fitting place to be defiled."
"Indeed, My Master." Lilith nodded. "I also found some ancient catacombs beneath the palace. It seems they contain some magical artifacts and ancient texts."
"Good." I stood up. "Lead me to the cathedral. I will personally 'inspect' those with potential."
When we arrived at the cathedral, the sight within made me smile. Light symbols were smashed, holy statues defiled, and dozens of women, both commoners and nobles, cowered in fear. Their eyes were filled with despair as they saw me. Some mages were bound, their eyes burning with hatred.
I walked slowly among the pews, sensing each surge of life force and mana. Bloodsight allowed me to quickly assess each individual's potential.
"Lilith," I said, pointing to a few mages and several particularly beautiful or striking women. "These will be kept. The rest... slaughter them. I have no use for the weak and useless."
Horrified screams erupted as the Demon Warriors began their massacre. Blood once again stained the marble floor of the cathedral. I felt no remorse. This was a necessary purge.
After the massacre ended, only about twenty individuals remained, those with potential whom I had chosen. Elara, weak but still alive, was also brought here, now dressed in a simpler gown by Lilith. She was tasked with "examining" the captured mages, assessing their abilities.
I turned to the Queen, who was being held firmly by Lilith in a corner. She was utterly broken, her eyes vacant, staring into nothingness. Her body was still full and alluring, but now it was merely a tool.
"Queen," I spoke, my voice full of authority. "From now on, you will be my primary energy source. Your light mana will be transmuted into darkness, to bolster the power of this Demon Lord."
I ordered Lilith to take the Queen to a special chamber I had found beneath the palace. That place would be transformed into a "refinement chamber" for the Queen. I envisioned a dark magical mechanism to continuously drain and convert mana from her.
While Lilith was busy with the Queen, I began to train the newly captured mages. I wanted them to learn to use their magic to serve the darkness. This would be a long process, but a promising one.
I looked down at the remaining women. They trembled in fear, but I could see a glimmer of faint hope in their desperate eyes. The hope of survival. I would let them live, but at a cost. They would be my sex slaves, playthings to satisfy my lust and that of my demons.
"This is the dawn of a new dark era," I murmured to myself. "And I, Azazel, will be its supreme ruler."
I knew that this conquest was just the beginning. There were still many other kingdoms to conquer, many souls to corrupt. But with every step, I felt myself growing stronger, becoming more truly the Demon Lord Azazel.