The march from the Kingdom of Elara to the Trade City of Valoria took three days, and Sir Kael's appearance was but a minor interruption on my path to dominance. Now, Valoria stood majestically before us, a bustling trade hub with towering walls, starkly different from Elara's sturdy yet crumbling fortifications. Though a commercial city, it was well-guarded, with numerous watchtowers and constant patrols.
Unlike the attack on Elara, Valoria seemed to have been forewarned. Perhaps my notoriety, or the massacres along the way, had reached their ears. However, this did not deter me. A small challenge would only make victory sweeter.
"They know we are coming," I rumbled, my voice echoing within the armor. "Good. I want them to know what true fear is."
I ordered my forces to halt a short distance from the city gates. The Demon Warriors and Demon Butchers growled, their crimson eyes fixed on the city walls. I stepped forward, facing Valoria's gates alone.
"Demon! How dare you come here!" A voice boomed from atop the city walls, accompanied by the creak of drawing bows and the nascent glow of magical fireballs. "The city of Valoria will not yield to you!"
I sneered. The Mass Intimidation effect of my armor immediately activated. An invisible wave of dark pressure radiated from me, engulfing the entire area. The guards on the walls instantly recoiled, some dropping their weapons, others trembling too violently to aim. Their magic dissipated into the air.
"You will yield," I roared, my voice filled with authority and menace. "Valoria is mine!"
I raised my hand, concentrating mana into my palm. A colossal orb of dark energy began to form, absorbing the surrounding light, making the air heavy and terrifying. This was a more potent version of the Dark Burst I had used, amplified by the Blood-Dark Demon Lord Armor.
"Destroy them!" I commanded, launching the dark orb towards the city gates.
BOOOOM!
A terrifying explosion reverberated through the valley. Valoria's formidable gates, seemingly impenetrable, cracked, then shattered into countless pieces, exploding outwards like fireworks. Smoke, dust, and debris billowed into the air.
Horrified screams of guards and citizens erupted from within the city. They couldn't believe their eyes. The city gates had been annihilated with a single blow.
"Advance!" I roared, signaling my forces. "Slaughter them all! Turn this city into my hell!"
The Demon Warriors and Demon Butchers let out ferocious growls, charging through the broken gates. The clang of axes on bone and flesh, the pierce of stone swords through iron armor, and the desperate cries of humans mingled together, forming a symphony of death. The scent of fresh blood permeated the air, stimulating the demonic instincts within me.
I walked slowly through the destroyed gates. Corpses lay scattered on the ground, fresh blood soaking the earth and stone. Before me lay a wide road leading into the city center, where panicked citizens fled, desperately seeking refuge.
A group of knights and royal guards, seemingly the elite defense force, were gathering in the main plaza, attempting to put up a resistance. They were brave warriors, but their courage was a mere flicker before the storm of darkness.
"Let me handle them," I muttered to myself. I wanted to test my new skill.
"Dark Release!"
A massive surge of dark energy erupted from my body, expanding outwards like a shockwave. The nearest guards and knights were instantly engulfed by the darkness, screaming in agony as their bodies withered, flesh turning to ash. Their mana was siphoned away, transforming into power for me.
[HP +200! Mana +100! Pain energy absorbed!]
When the darkness dissipated, a circular void appeared in the center of the plaza, leaving behind only scorched black marks on the stone. The remaining soldiers were horrified, trembling, daring not to advance. Mass Intimidation continued to take effect.
"Valoria, you will belong to Azazel," I murmured, a cruel smile hidden beneath my armor. "And this is just the beginning."
The massacre continued. I no longer directly participated much in the killing. My demons were sufficient for that. I simply walked through the city, witnessing its downfall, and feeling my power expand. My next targets were the treasury and the wealthy residential areas. Valoria would be a bountiful source of resources for my empire.