Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest-Chapter 427: The Call of War

"We’ll know if they succeeded soon enough."

Ifrit pointed at the cuneiforms as they swirled like dark stars in a half circle that reached Bahamut’s shoulders. The scent of salt overwhelmed his nostrils, and water roiled into the center, filling it in the blink of an eye.

Through the dark liquid, the outline of a white-golden plaza formed. Thousands of silhouettes in neat battalions, clutching spears, swords, and shields, glared at the titanic Bahamut.

The fire in their eyes, their unflinching posture against impossible odds, caused Bart’s heart to drum in his ears. A rush of scalding blood seared his marrow, and his fists tightened. This feeling! The same as eleven years ago—the same as when Adam led them to conquer Oikos: the call of war.

However, things were much different now.

"Mama!" Maria and Noah yelled, drawing his gaze to his wife’s proud figure at the front.

Nine tails of pure white fur swayed behind Shihan as she winked at them, then gazed at Bahamut again.

He recognised Garduck, who stood beside her despite his new form, nodding at how handsome he had become... ’Strong, not handsome,’ he corrected himself, inwardly, the corner of his lips curling. ’Adam’s influence.’

Karna met his eyes next, holding an impossibly intricate composite bow. Engravings ran on its orichalcum surface like liquid sunrays. Grooves, handles, and several strings fixed to two pulleys turned it into a tool he couldn’t begin to comprehend.

’As long as it works as intended.’ Averting his eyes from the weapon, he noticed Gawain standing atop a proud hippogriff.

Where did it come from? And were there over a hundred behind them? And beside them... Bull-headed creatures with muscles so grotesque they seemed to strangle their own veins. Eldjötnars, dark elves, dwarves, humans, and amazons were there, too, their outdated ballistas replaced by magical cannons and mortars ready to rain hell on the draconic empire.

When did the kingdom’s army become so diversified? He dismissed the question as soon as it popped into his mind. Finding Adam was more important! After all, if Garduck had returned, it could only mean that Ifrit was spot on. They had done the impossible, survived to tell the tale, and evolved to match those they sought to destroy. They were now divinities!

His eyes darted around for several seconds before he lowered his head and sighed. No Adam. But six strange figures, three young men and women, rapidly stole his attention—seven if he counted the bare-chested man clutching Achilles’ Pelean Ash Spear.

No doubt. It was Achilles. But how did his blond hair and blue eyes turn murky gray? Did Adam take him to the source of the Styx and trigger his evolution? Most likely, considering how his right foot stood forward as if provoking the world to target his mortal heel.

With the mystery resolved, he focused on the six figures. They were slightly shorter than he, but their proportions were perfect. His eyes darted between his bulky muscles and their lean, immaculate limbs, then at the dark wings folded behind their backs. Each feather looked blessed... no, the opposite. They looked cursed by the divine, mirrored in their demonic green eyes in the most alluring faces he had ever seen after Luna and Adam’s... Even that became a doubt. From his memories, those six surpassed them both.

’I hope his last evolutions enhanced his looks, or he won’t like it.’ He shook his head, focusing on the last detail: a halo hovering above each of their heads.

They blazed in spinning dark flames, echoing their wings, intensifying his feeling that they were cursed beings. ’Where did they find them?’

As he scrutinised them for a second too long, they frowned at him. His eyes darted to the side, but it was too late. Intense glares prickled his skin, and his throat dried. He focused on them, only to gasp at the familiar mischievous grins and waving hands.

"The six troublemakers?!"

Ifrit tucked his fiery fingers around his chin, narrowing his eyes. "They changed so much. Wait! I’ve read about this evolution in the frescos on Surtr’s walls. What did it say? Ancient relics of a forgotten war, buried in the cursed abyss." The embers serving as his eyes ignited into two infernos. "Adam gave them their remnants. Ah! I would have never believed the imps he insisted on sparing would become like them!"

"Like who?" Bart’s knuckles whitened in trepidation. "Come on, don’t talk to yourself and explain to me!"

Ifrit’s voice grew somber, the crackling of fire intensifying around him. "The original forms of the devils before they were cast into the mortal realms. They’ve become Fallen angels!"

Bart covered his mouth, his eyes slipping to the side. "T-That sounds impressive."

"You don’t need to act. Remember? Forgotten. Even I don’t know what they’re capable of." Ifrit rolled his eyes, then pointed above the army. "As interesting as fallen angels are, I’m more intrigued by them."

He followed the pointed finger, his gaze landing on Tiamat’s smirking face. She hovered mid-air, her abyssal hair and broad sleeves fluttering in the wind. Beside her, Eris’ long hair moved like serpents ready to revel in strife and chaos, while the three Furies lashed their whips, violence flashing in their eyes.

Bahamut glared at them, too, as he imbued Maxwell with as much power as his body could withstand.

Golden scales and horns hardened from the man’s skin, drawing intricate patterns on his cheeks, limbs, and torso. A tail and wings erupted from his back, lashing in the wind. But Maxwell had no time to revel in the sensation of power coursing through his every cell, or his draconian looks. Not when Bahamut’s voice echoed inside his mind.

"Tiamat’s strength isn’t remotely close to what it was at her peak—I can feel it. But we can’t leave anything to chance. Obliterate the chaotic spawn she raised while I crush her."

Maxwell knitted his brow. "Can you handle five divinities?"

"Aside from Tiamat, the other four lack the physical might to be called a challenge. Don’t worry about me and protect the empire of peace and order we’ve built."

Before Maxwell could answer, the water filling the portal vaporised, revealing the sea’s bright colors, and letting through the roars of thousands of soldiers ready to surge like a tide.