My eyes saw darkness again, and my ears could hear the cries of many people. I gasped hard and opened my eyes wide.
The crying suddenly stopped. I changed my position to sit, examined my lower body covered with cloth, and found black holes in several parts.
I looked at my ladies, Ritor, Jude, Szur, Karl, and Charlia. Their expressions looked like a mix of confusion and shock.
Instead of talking to them, I chuckled. And before long, it became loud laughter.
Holy shit. I cheated death twice.
"H-how come?" Ayre staggered to me. "A few minutes ago, you were not breathing, my lord."
I jumped off the bed and tied the bottom of my body with the cloth. "That happened because I am Vorn, the demon lord who will rule this world."
While the others fell silent, I continued to laugh. This is great.
And I feel a tremendous power within me.
"Argghhh!!!" I released that power, and in a short time, my body emitted black smoke. My muscles expanded, and patterns of fiery red decorated several parts of my body.
And those around me gasped again.
I looked down at my hand, which was emitting thin black smoke. "Give me a mirror."
Damn, my voice changed, too. It was getting heavier and sounding like an echo.
Ayre immediately took a square mirror on her desk, then showed it to me.
Now I have long fangs, and my eyes are burning red. Also, the features on my face are almost skull-like, but with the top half constantly emitting black smoke.
"You look splendid, my lord." Phisovia came up to me and rubbed my face. She did shed tears, but her mouth curved into a faint smile. "Welcome back…. Again."
I changed my form to normal and rubbed the red-haired succubus' face back.
My other women hugged me one by one while sobbing.
"We thought we would lose you again, my lord." Xenora sighed.
"I'm not leaving anymore." I looked at Ritor, Szur, Karl, and Charlia. They all nodded at me. "That is my oath."
No pain at all. I feel my energy keeps growing instead. With this, maybe I'll be able to defeat Hiana.
"I'm sorry, but I think we have to do some checking on you, my lord." Lexi had difficulty speaking. "I'm worried about how you are now."
"Sure, though I feel great." I wiped the doctor's tears that were flowing profusely, then looked at the faces of my women. "No need to cry anymore. We will continue this journey."
***
I sat in a chair while Lexi pressed my body in several places, and Ayre scanned me with her glowing hands.
"This is magnificent, my lord," Lexi muttered. "You have become a full-fledged demon. I can no longer find traces of humanity in your body."
"And the ragmonuk metal inside you has been fused with your body just fine," Ayre added.
I checked for an accident wound on my leg, but I couldn't find any. I'm completely cured.
"Excuse me, my lord." Emily, standing before me, gulped. "You said you had something you wanted to tell me?"
"Ah, you're right." I sighed, feeling reluctant to say all this. "From now on, I officially disband the undead regiment, remove you from the general position, and kill all the undead we have. Apart from that, I will also ban the practice of necromancy in all the areas I control."
The atmosphere was momentarily silent. Lexi and Ayre stopped their inspection while Emily's eyes widened. The supreme undead's chin also drooped.
"Why, my lord?" She hissed.
"That doesn't mean I don't need your services anymore." I put on a smile.
"Is it because of what I said last night?"
I stood up and approached her. "Not necessarily. The thing is, I did a deal to be able to rise from the dead."
"A deal?" The supreme undead frowned. "Deal with whom?"
"A being who guards the borders of life and the afterlife," I explained. "I promise to return the majority of the undead spirits back to the afterlife."
It took a moment for the supreme undead to respond. "But the undead are a crucial part of your army, my lord."
I put on a bitter smile. "I have no other choice."
"If you don't do that, they'll take you again, right?" Ayre guessed.
"More or less." I folded my arms across my chest and walked to the room's other side. "Well, I don't like being at their mercy like that. But I have to do whatever I can to achieve my dream."
"Thanks, my lord." Emily sobbed. But when I looked at her again, she smiled. "You have removed my burden…. Though, unfortunately, my role will be drastically reduced."
"That doesn't mean you can't fight by my side anymore, Emily." I returned her smile. "I know your warrior spirit will never fade away in the depths of your heart."
She wiped her tears. "Ah, you're right."
"You will stay with me in achieving my dreams, Emily." I approached her again and stroked her hair.
She held my hand and widened her smile.
The communication icon in my UI is twinkling. There was a call from Ritor.
"What's wrong, Ritor?" I asked the minotaur general.
"I want to report about the foreign object, my lord," Ritor explained in a fast tone. "The energy fluctuations of that thing are getting crazier. Scientists feel it will hatch."
"I'll be there soon. You and the others beware. If it's too dangerous, you better run away."
"As you wish, your majesty." After Ritor answered, I ended the call.
"I must leave immediately." I took the cloak hanging in the corner of the room.
"But we still have to examine you in more detail, my lord." Lexi rushed over.
"No more time," I said. "I don't want Hiana to cause any damage."
Lexi had already opened her mouth, about to argue. But the woman lowered her head in silence instead.
"That's okay, Emily." Ayre chimed in. "In the end, this is what lord Vorn has to do."
"Lord Vorn has beaten death twice already," Emily smirked. "I'm sure he'll be fine this time."
I put on my robe. "I will finish this."
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