"I can't believe you had everything planned down to the last detail, my lord!"
Garduck's healthy skin glistened under the sun as he slapped Bart's healed arm in delight.
The muscular demon offered him a relieved nod next but didn't bother to speak as the six teenagers showered him with praises.
He raised his nose high, his posture exuding arrogance as he chuckled.
"Of course, everything was a part of my plan. I reached the master rank in the most famous STR game a few years ago!"
Confused by the strange terminology, his subjects tilted and scratched their heads as he waved his hand and returned to the territory, unable to wait to increase its rank and see the mythical figures he would summon.
Meanwhile, Tiamat's lips curled into a terrifying smirk in his lord's hut as her voice thundered.
However, instead of reverberating inside the habitation, it did in space at several times the speed of light to reach a man sitting on a lavish throne.
Lifelike golden dragons roared at his shoulders as the jade encased on the back glinted a refreshing green glow. A luminous halo speaking of a grand history encased the man and his intricate robes. Yet, the deep furrow creasing his brows shattered his harmonious image.
"Huang Di! You've seen my contractor in action like everyone else. Do you want to side with the other fools when you stand nothing to gain? You? The wise emperor who claimed divinity on his own? Or will you accept my deal and give me what I want?"
A flash of hesitation glinted in Huang Di's eyes as he pondered Tiamat's offer and what he had just witnessed during the event.
"It's a pity she moved and contracted him first... But allying with chaos' personification?"
He tapped his finger on his smooth armrest, a conflicting grimace distorting his features. After all, he advocated for peace and harmony, while Tiamat was his exact opposite.
Yet, when he knew he would have refused without second thoughts a week ago, his words remained stuck in his throat.
After a brief deliberation, he sighed and delivered a swift answer.
"That imp has a good heart and clear goals in mind. I can't promise an alliance, but I'll remain neutral. He can also have him even if I don't understand your choice. You know we sealed his powers after all the trouble he caused."
Tiamat's laughter echoed in the throne room as she answered.
"I just want to reward him with something he wants. I'll deliver a chaos gem to you in a moment, even if it breaks my heart. See ya!"
A heavy silence lingered for a second before Huang Di retrieved a palm-sized rock engraved with the figures of a sleeping individual.
"Erlang Shen will pester me for centuries..."
Simultaneously, Adam lept over the wooden walls and landed in his peaceful territory.
With an eager smile, he retrieved the demonic sergeant's head first, absorbed its essence, and checked the change on his interface.
Chaotic demonic essence: 98->128
"That's it? I expected more from a greater demon."
He clicked his tongue, the sound of a shattering skull echoing as he crumpled it like an unwanted piece of trash.
Dusting his hands off the alabaster bone powder, he repeated the process with the lord of the nine realms and exploded into laughter at the result.
Chaotic demonic essence: 128->228
"Hahaha. I guess that's how little Baal valued you. You were nothing more than a foolish tool used to go against me, but you both helped me grow stronger in the end!"
As his mocking words lingered in the air, a notification appeared before his enlarging eyes. Yet, he swiped it aside and walked to his demon lord's hut.
"I'll check it after summoning."
He smirked on his way, passing by his subjects' empty houses and the demonic altar until his eager citizens' faces and the open door registered in his eyes.
Muramasa moved first, his steps measured and a warm smile stretching his lips as he spoke.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help you on the last wave, but congratulations on subduing it, my lord."
With a friendly headshake to convey it wasn't Muramasa's fault, he showed the demonic blade and focused on it.
"The others will return soon. But tell me, can you replicate this weapon? I'd like to have a batch for them."
An eager glint flashed in the legendary smith's eyes as he seized the weapon and scanned it from every angle.
Then, he smirked and threw it on his shoulder.
"No problem. It's interesting as a reference but the work of an amateur. It doesn't require any special mineral either since it's probably a mass-produced weapon. I'll also remove the negative enchantment. But I'll need a few days of testing to ensure no lingering risks remain."
He raised his thumb in approval, eager to see the smith's work.
Then, he briefly explained what had happened before walking to the nearby Gate.
As usual, he took a pitcher's stance with an eager laugh as the golden mask appeared in his hand.
"Appear, SSR ranked mythical figure!"
The mask whistled like a cannonball as he hurled it into the construct's frame with inhuman strength.
Instantly, a loud buzzing echoed, followed by an epic, archaic drumming melody that sent his heart racing against his chest.
Golden flames carrying the warm scent of the burning desert swirled into existence as the melody intensified. As if animated by a will, they shifted to take the form of grand constructs engraved with ancient hieroglyphs and towering statues seemingly defying the sky and divinities alike.
'It has to be an exceptional individual! Come out already!'
Unable to endure the suspense, he roared in his mind as a tanned foot draped in golden-coated sandals pierced the flames.
He noticed the intricately engraved anklets glinting under the sun before an immaculate blue kilt swirled with the flames.
Stunned by the wealth, he noticed the fabric's quality and the golden threads decorating it in awe before a bare chest and powerful arms came next.
Like Muramasa's, he noticed the condensed muscles and bulging veins screaming lethal efficiency rather than show. But also the heavy golden necklace and bracelets he wore.
And finally, a handsome face appeared next.
The man's blue eyes locked on him as he passed a hand to comb his smooth, dark hair back.
"Tsk. This inferior being who dares to call himself the sun god dared to send me, ME, to an imp. Preposterous!"