The sudden collapse of Sato's subordinates had thrown the village into chaos, with frightened whispers and shuffling feet filling the air. Carion, one of the beast men, was taken aback by the scene before him.
"What is going on here?" he muttered, trying to make sense of the situation.
Another beast man, visibly shaken, took a few steps back from the unconscious bodies. "I don't like this," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Meanwhile, Sato let out a deep sigh as he stood up from Yuri's thighs, where he had been sitting moments before. As he gazed out at the scattered bodies around him, his expression was one of neutral and calm.
Sato let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair as he tried to process the situation. "How long is this going to take?" he asked, his tone filled with frustration. "I still have to meet up with the chief goblin and the Cat men."
<<The evolving should take some hours for their body to accept the change, as for the time of their awakening, that varies on the individual>>
"A few hours?" Sato muttered to himself, his plans for the day abruptly changing. He then turned to Carion, one of the few standing alongside him. "Carion, help me position them well in a straight line," he said, pointing at the unconscious bodies.
Carion nodded, his face a mix of concern and confusion, before he and the rest of the beast men joined Sato in arranging the bodies of the fallen.
Once they finished positioning the unconscious bodies, Sato returned to his seat on the stone, lost in thought about the upcoming treaty signing with Jira.
Suddenly, Carion appeared before him, a concerned expression on his face as he spoke, "Lord Sato..." He called out hesitantly.
Sato lifted his head, his attention shifting to Carion as he asked, "What is it, Carion? Do you need something?"
Carion hesitated, his gaze drifting back to the unconscious bodies before he found the courage to ask, "Lord Sato, can you tell me what's happening here?".
Sato reclined with his hands supporting him, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "You needn't worry, they are undergoing changes due to my new status as a Demon Lord. It's nothing to be concerned about."
"I...I see," Carion said, his eyes lingering on the unconscious bodies before he posed another question. "If that's the case, then may I ask why it didn't affect any of us beastmen?".
"Uhn?" Sato muttered, "Well I didn't name you guys, did I? So we aren't exactly linked in any way".
Sato's statement seemed to hit Carion hard, and he suddenly fell to his knees, bowing his head in realization. It dawned on him that he had never been given a name by his lord, and that he had been simply referred to as "beastman" all this while.
Overcome with a sense of duty and loyalty, Carion lifted his head and looked directly at Sato with a determined expression. "Lord Sato! I would be honored if you would grant me a name," he said with conviction.
"Eh?".. Sato mummered.
"I'd also be honored if you would grant me a name as well." One of the demons said, falling to his knees with his head bowed beside Carion.
Although the rest wanted to join and have Sato name them, but they knew the amount of magic naming a species, especially one who had been named before, can take a toll on the body.
After much consideration, Sato finally spoke, "Very well." He said, standing to his feet and walking toward the two who had their heads bowed.
Sato's expression was calm as he approached Carion and the demon kneeling beside him. He took a moment to study them both, his mind working through different possibilities for their names.
Finally, he spoke again, "Carion, from this day forward, you shall be known as 'Raijin'." The beastman's eyes widened in surprise and gratitude as he lifted his head to meet Sato's gaze.
"And as for you," Sato turned to the demon beside Raijin, "you shall be known as 'Azazel'." The demon nodded in thanks, his expression respectful and awed.
The other demons and beastmen watched in silence as their comrades were named, feeling a mixture of envy and awe at the honor they had been given.
They knew that it was not an easy task to name a species, especially for a demon lord with as much power as Sato.
Sato returned to his seat on the stone, his eyes once again focused on the ground as he settled back into his thoughts. The newly named Raijin and Azazel remained kneeling beside him, their expressions one of reverence and loyalty.
…..
The blazing sun was high up in the sky, casting its golden light upon the village. The bodies of the unconscious elves and subordinates lay scattered on the ground, with Azazel and Raijin among them, still coming to grips with their newfound names.
Sato had left the village, entrusting the safety of his newly acquired territory to the watchful eyes of the beastmen and the newly appointed demon guards. With the village secure, Sato set out to meet the witches of Lilivil.
With agile movements, Sato weaved through the dense foliage of the forest, his steps silent as he swiftly made his way towards his destination. As he approached the gateway, his pace quickened, and he moved with such speed that he left a blur in his wake.
Coming to a sudden stop, Sato stood before the gateway, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.
The gateway, a mystical tree, passage to the witches' sanctuary, stood tall and imposing, surrounded by a thick mist that obscured the view beyond. Sato took a deep breath, preparing himself for what lay ahead.
Sato approached the tree, a solemn expression on his face. He placed his hand on the rough bark, feeling the energy coursing through it. "Lilivil, are you there?" he whispered, his voice barely above a breath.
As if in response, the tree began to glow with an ethereal light. The glow intensified, and suddenly, Sato was pulled forward by a powerful force. He stumbled forward, struggling to keep his balance as he was drawn into the tree.
In an instant, he was gone. The tree returned to its normal state, and the surrounding forest was once again shrouded in silence.
….
*Kingdom of Fiona*
Jira lay sprawled on the floor, his breathing shallow and his body covered in deep wounds. Three female healers were gathered around him, tending to his injuries with great care.
One was gently wiping his body with a damp towel, while another was skillfully bandaging his wounds. The third healer was assisting the other two, making sure that they had everything they needed.
Despite their efforts, Jira remained unconscious, his chest rising and falling with each shallow breath. The healers worked tirelessly, their hands moving quickly and precisely as they applied their healing magic to his battered body.
Galan, the first General of the Fiona army, stood at the entrance with his arms folded, a scowl etched onto his face. His long black hair cascaded down his back, and his pale gray skin gave him an ominous appearance.
Galan's most striking feature, however, was his four strange eyes, which seemed to glower at everything around him.
Beside Galan stood the 3rd General, Yayha, a male with a small stature and a bald head. His snake-like eyes darted around the room, taking in everything with a calculating gaze. Despite his diminutive size, Yayha exuded a sense of danger and power that was hard to ignore.
"You must be thinking the same thing I am," Yayha said, his gaze fixed on Jira, who was being tended to by three female healers.
Galan let out a groan, "I still can't wrap my head around the fact that we lost a war... against some weak elf," he asserted. "Are the lower generals really that incompetent?"
Yayha smiled, "Don't forget, even Lord Jira lost to them... hard to believe anyone could beat him this badly."
Galan's eyes narrowed, and he turned to face Yayha, grabbing him by his clothes. "Are you implying that Demon Lord Jira... is weak?"
"No," Yayha responded calmly. "What I am saying is, whoever roughed up Lord Jira this much probably spared him, and if that's the case, he would have most definitely earned the title of Demon Lord.".
Galan's grip on Yayha's clothes tightened as he leaned in closer. "Watch your tongue, Yayha. Remember who you're talking to."
The bald-headed general remained unfazed. "I'm fully aware, Galan. But we can't afford to be in denial about the situation. We lost the war, and we need to rethink our steps and come up with a new strategy because if people find out Lord Jira isn't a demon lord anymore… we could have a problem in our hands."
Galan's scowl deepened, but he reluctantly released his grip on Yayha. "Fine, but we need to act fast. Our position as one of the top demon generals is at stake."
Yayha nodded in agreement. "I couldn't agree more. That said…can you let me now?".
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