Chapter 279 A Unexpected Guest
By the dawn of the next day, Aengus had achieved a monumental feat: the creation of five Demon Lords within his ranks. These included Gormound, the formidable leader of the Lizard Tribe; Gabi, the Nine-Headed Hydra; and The Wolf King, a ferocious and cunning ruler of his kin. Each of them now stood as newly minted Demon Lords, their power levels and auras unmatched in their respective realms.
In addition to the Demon Lords, 14 other subordinates had ascended to Demon General level, further solidifying the strength of Aengus' forces. It was an unprecedented accomplishment, achieved in a single night through the consumption of nearly 10 million demon corpses.
Aengus himself gained 10 levels, bringing his current level to 444. This, combined with his own efforts hunting high-level beasts in the wilderness, added 4 additional levels, a testament to his relentless drive for power.
Now seated upon the Demon Lord's Throne within the Crimson City (now known as the Domain of Ruination), Aengus surveyed his court. Below before him stood his most powerful subordinates, their loyalty evident in their resolute stances and unwavering gazes. The massive throne room, once shrouded in fear under Demon Lord Crimson's reign, now hummed with an entirely different energy—one of anticipation and ambition.
Aengus leaned back on the throne, his eyes glinting with a mix of satisfaction and determination. His subordinates were stronger than ever, his domain was expanding, and his plans for a unified, fearsome empire were taking shape.
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"Report," he commanded in a calm, authoritative tone.
Gourmond, now in human form, stepped forward first, bowing slightly. "My Lord, the integration of the remaining forces is progressing well. Most have pledged loyalty, though a few pockets of resistance remain in the outer territories. They will be dealt with shortly."
Aria and Bella sat beside the throne, radiating strength and elegance, silently observing the proceedings.
Sen, Sienna, and the new Demon Lords stood at the ready, awaiting their assignments.
Aengus nodded. "That's good. Begin fortifying the borders of our domain. I want no surprises like Crimson. As for those resisting... they'll serve as good nourishment for our continued growth."
"As you wish, my lord!"
Sen, Sienna and other subordinates responded in unison, their voices echoing through the grand hall.
Belial stood to the side, his expression calm but his heart filled with satisfaction. Watching his daughter Bella sit proudly beside Aengus as a queen brought him a sense of accomplishment. Though he had once feared for her future, it was now clear that she had chosen a husband destined for greatness—one who would not only protect her but elevate her to unimaginable heights.
Aria and Bella, seated near the throne on opposite sides, exchanged glances. Despite their contrasting personalities and occasional competition, they both shared a deep love and admiration for Aengus. Their eyes met briefly, and a soft, knowing smile spread across their lips—a moment of unspoken solidarity.
Aria leaned slightly against her armrest, her sharp gaze scanning the gathered subordinates. She was constantly alert, ensuring no treachery could arise under their noses. Yet her sharpness softened every time her eyes lingered on her husband, who commanded the room with such ease.
Bella, on the other hand, exuded a more relaxed elegance. She casually brushed a lock of her fiery-tipped hair behind her ear as her fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on the armrest of her chair. Despite her playful and mischievous nature, her love for Aengus shone through in her supportive gaze.
The two women may have had their differences, but in this moment, they shared the same thought: They had chosen the right man to stand beside..
Aengus' gaze shifted to the old fire demon, whose form was now more humanoid than most others in the court.
"So, you're the butler who used to manage Crimson's official matters?" he asked, his tone calm but commanding.
The old demon bowed deeply and replied, "Yes, my lord. I am called Xander, and I humbly wish to serve you now."
"Mm... you're acknowledged," Aengus said with a nod of approval.
Of course, Aengus had already made Xander his slave through Shadow Monarch's Dominion, ensuring absolute loyalty with no possibility of betrayal. Recognizing Xander's years of experience, Aengus decided to keep him close to efficiently manage the administration of the domain.
"Alright, now let's discuss the succession of the empty seats of twelve Dukes."
With Aengus' command, another thorough discussion began.
Xander was entrusted with aiding in the smooth transition of power and overseeing control of the other Dukedoms. The domain consisted of 13 Dukedoms, and Aengus had already taken decisive action to secure his authority.
Ten of the Dukedoms were now under the command of newly appointed Demon Generals from his ranks, each selected for their power and loyalty. The remaining three were under the control of Duke Belial with the support of two other longstanding dukes who had sworn their fealty to Aengus without hesitation.
It could be said that Belial had gained significantly from his unwavering trust in Aengus. Not only did he retain control over his original dukedom, but he had also been entrusted with managing two additional territories. Naturally, Belial was pleased, his confidence in Aengus's leadership growing even stronger.
With the discussion concluded, the Dukedoms were now properly reorganized and ready to fall fully under the Domain of Ruination's rule.
As everyone began to leave the court, Sen suddenly stepped forward, his expression serious.
"My Lord, there's someone from the Demon Lords' Council seeking an audience," he announced, his voice cutting through the room.
The statement made everyone pause.
Aengus remained calm, his face unreadable, but those closest to him—Aria, Bella, and Belial—visibly tensed. They all understood the implications of this. The other Demon Lords had undoubtedly received news of Crimson's defeat and the rise of a new Demon Lord in his place.
"Lord, it would be wise to speak with them peacefully at first," Xander suggested cautiously, bowing slightly as he voiced his advice.
Aengus nodded, his piercing gaze shifting outside to the grand entrance of the Castle.
"Let them in," he commanded without fear.
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