Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

As he planned to continue his discussion with Vrashnak, his brows furrowed at the sight of his generals' glinting weapons and crackling flames.
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He raised his hand and lowered his palms, a reassuring smile curling on his lips.

"Vrashnak will follow us for now. I'll explain everything later. Or better, you'll ask and learn to know him that way." He pointed at the silver chest at their feet, his voice playful. "Not worth the fight, but still not bad. Let's return to Foliaris. I'm sure you all want nothing more than a delicious meal and a delightful rest."

Zephyr and Zane nodded as if offered salvation while a frustrated frown creased Sylas' brows.

Beside them, Victoria, Morwen, and Sarah offered him delighted smiles, showing their eagerness to return.

However, his trusted generals didn't share their reactions. Instead, he saw their eyes dart between him and the orc.

A tense silence hung in the air before Luna exhaled, stepping forward to face Vrashnak.

"We'll monitor him until we figure his intentions out. That's non-negotiable."

Her steady gaze never left the orc as her unyielding voice reverberated through the chamber.

Her posture tightened, hands raised before her chest, ready to channel her demonic essence at the first sign of betrayal.

"You might have convinced Adam, but I've seen too many so-called allies turn on us when it mattered most. You're sorely mistaken if you think I'll let my guard down because of a few words."

A drop of icy sweat trailed down his brow as he raised a tense thumb with a cough. Then, he rushed to the lich's carcass and gripped his disgusting skull staff and temalacatl.

"Look at me. I almost forgot our spoils." With an innocent whistle, he returned to Vrashnak and pushed his back. "Let's move first."

Vrashnak caught the clue, stepped forward, and whispered.

"Your wife?"

A warm sensation spread around Adam's chest at the idea.

"Not yet." He threw him a meaningful glance.

"We can't upset her then. Trust me, I experienced it sixteen times."

Adam rolled his eyes and halted for a second as his mind rumbled.

'Sixteen? Have I freed the orcish Don Juan?'

His throat refused to produce sounds. Sixteen wives? It was just too much. Instead, his eyes darted to Luna's loyal figure as he silently vowed, 'You're the only one.'

He shook his head and put aside relationships to return to the main subject and the question that burned his lips.

"What happened to your skin?"

"Oh, that? Want the truth, or can I lie?" Vrashnak smirked before his voice grew somber. "This bastard lich played a little with me to reach his goal. It was painful, but I'm alive, so I guess I can't complain." He paused and dropped the humorous facade. "His stone disk and the magical circle. I don't know how his sick mind came to believe he could resurrect using them, but that's why he drew blood from creatures."

A pensive frown creased his brows as he repeated the mad undead's words.

"By harnessing the power of the sun, I'll awaken Quetzalcoatl. With his return, life will flourish." He spat on the ground and raised his fists. "I don't know who that bastard is, but I have two words I'd like to share with him if you know what I mean."

Adam's throat itched as he muffled an unwelcome chuckle and focused on Quetzalcoatl. Of course, he knew the big lines about the most prominent god in Aztec mythology. Well, from games, as usual.

"The winged serpent sacrificed himself to create the sun. Creation, life, renewal, he ruled over them all, though it felt like too much for one being."

The most crucial detail from Vrashnak's recounting didn't escape him, though.

'It's good that he's sleeping somewhere. I don't need more pantheons against me.'

Meanwhile, Vrashnak snorted and continued.

"Doesn't matter. I'll rip that serpent's wings and turn them into blankets. Still, I didn't only suffer. The experiment yielded... unexpected results. Don't ask me how my body mutated but my skin protects me from curses."

Adam pointed his thumb at his generals behind as they reached the dilapidated hall and stepped toward the exit.

"We guessed that much. I'm also curious about your plan to rally the west. I doubt using your fists alone is enough."

Raising his broad palm to shield his green eyes from the setting sun, Vrashnak paused, taking a brief moment to appreciate it after a hundred years of deprivation. Then, patting Adam's shoulder, he chuckled.

"It is. You know nothing about our deep yet simple traditions." His tusk-like teeth glinted as he smirked. "Women, soldiers, leadership, the strongest take them all. That's the beauty of the west." His voice trailed off. "When humans aren't ruining it with treacherous offers."

A bitter chuckle escaped Adam's lips.

"Can't blame you, but not all are the same. Look at us." He gestured at his group. "We're gentle demons against the public's opinion."

Vrashnak sized him up and down and pointed at the lich's staff.

"Tell that to him. I'm sure your gentleness touched his heart in the depths of Xibalba. Hahaha! Seriously, does anyone believe you when you say that?"

Adam rolled his eyes, moved to the team handling the carts, and handed them the two items. Then, he gestured for Vrashnak to join him on the driver's bench.

"You'll see for yourself. Do you know how to handle horses?"

"I can even ride rynadons." Vrashnak blurred beside him and stretched his palm out. "Give me the leash. I missed that feeling."

Meanwhile, Adam rested his head on his palm as he watched his generals load the silver chest and sit behind.

'What's a rynadon?'

As the question rumbled in his mind, the leash snapped with a sharp crack under Vrashnak's controlled flick.

The horses neighed, their hooves kicking up dust on the old temple's gravel-strewn ground before the soothing sound of rolling wheels echoed.

He found comfort in the rhythmic rocking and the fresh evening breeze as the carts sped back toward Foliaris after the rough day and their dangerous battle.

Still, the question about the rynadons lingered in his mind, making him anticipate seeing this unknown creature soon.