The city of Valoria was plunged into chaos. Screams, crashes, the growls of demons, and the pungent smell of fresh blood permeated every corner. With the Blood-Dark Demon Lord Armor and the Mass Intimidation skill, I didn't need to personally engage in much combat. My mere presence was enough to sow terror and weaken the will of anyone who dared to resist.
My Demon Warriors and Demon Butchers carried out their destructive work efficiently. They didn't just kill; they also plundered, bringing back spoils as I commanded. I ordered them to focus on the wealthiest areas: the merchant districts, noble houses, and especially the city treasury.
I walked slowly through the streets, strewn with corpses and rubble, feeling my power solidify with every step. This was my new domain, a treasure waiting to be unearthed.
TING!
[Quest: Conquer the Trade City of Valoria (30/100%) - Dominate Valoria and turn it into a Demon Lord's base.]
Finally, we reached the city treasury, a formidable building located deep underground, protected by thick iron doors and magical enchantments. However, against my absolute power and the demons' brutality, all defenses proved futile. My Demon Butchers easily smashed through the doors, and we entered.
Inside, I was overwhelmed by the sight. Piles of gold and silver, gems sparkling like stars, and chests filled with coins filled the vast vault. Magical artifacts, valuable weapons, and ancient scrolls lay scattered about. This was truly a treasure trove.
"Good," I muttered, a satisfied smile on my lips. "Collect everything. Don't leave a single thing behind."
My Demon Servants, with their smaller hands, began piling gold, silver, and gems into the magical bags I had purchased from the Shop. I felt my Demon Essence rapidly increasing.
While overseeing the looting, my Resource Sense suddenly flared intensely. There was a strange, powerful energy source hidden deep beneath the treasury floor. It wasn't gold, nor gems, nor ordinary magical artifacts. It was something different, an ancient energy.
"Stop!" I commanded the demons. "There's something else here."
I walked directly to where the energy emanated from, kicking aside a few treasure chests. Beneath the floor tiles, I discovered an ancient stone tablet, inscribed with strange symbols. The energy originated from beneath this tablet.
"Fools," I muttered, disregarding the symbols. I ordered the Demon Butchers to smash the tablet.
With a few powerful swings of their axes, the tablet shattered. Beneath it, a smaller chamber was revealed, hidden in shadow. From within the chamber, a faint but warm light emanated, along with a subtle, earthy scent.
I bent down and peered into the chamber. Inside was a small stone pedestal, and on it, an object shimmering with a soft green light. It was a gem. But not an ordinary gem. It radiated a vibrant, strangely pure energy, completely contrary to my dark magic.
"What is this?" I reached out, feeling the energy from the gem. It was Nature Energy, incredibly concentrated and powerful.
TING!
[Special Item: Ancient Spirit Heart discovered!]
[Description: A rare gem containing ancient life force and spiritual energy. Can be used for enhancement, crafting, or summoning Spirits.]
An Ancient Spirit Heart. A source of pure energy, but one I could turn into a resource for myself. I recalled the Dark Summoning skill that had unlocked at level 7. Could I use it to summon dark spirits from this gem? Or even corrupt light spirits into dark ones?
This was an incredibly valuable discovery. It could be a perpetual energy source, removing the need to rely solely on Elara and the Queen. Furthermore, it could help me create an army of corrupted spirits, a new force for my empire.
I carefully picked up the gem. Its warm energy flowed through my armor, yet it didn't discomfit me. Instead, I felt a strange urge.
"Lilith will be very interested in this," I thought to myself. She was always drawn to rare and powerful things.
With the Ancient Spirit Heart in hand, and Valoria's treasury depleted, I felt this conquest had far exceeded expectations. Valoria would not only be a new base but also a treasure trove of hidden secrets and power.