My hair fluttered all the way down to my shoulders.
As I clenched and released my fist, the sensation of the finger that had been missing all this time returned. It felt slightly awkward.
But on that record, my entire body was the same.
I looked at my feet, my height had increased a little. I could also notice some change in my neck, likely the capacity of my throat and developed.
My muscle mass was also largely different and the weight distribution was even more optimal than before to fit the shape of my smaller, and by extension, more irrelevant inner organs.
My body had been torn apart and restructured by the demonic energy. Inch by inch.
The most awkward was the sensation of the two horns on my head.
And the wings that I could summon behind my shoulders.
"Eugy…"
Titania's voice came from the side.
I didn't have a tail yet, since only specific types of demons could use it. Even my wings were not material but more a mass of demonic energy that I could summon at any moment.
It was quite the feeling.
I turned to my side.
And saw the same blurred faces of Bathym and Titania.
A sigh of relief escaped me. I was almost worried about seeing people again, but it seemed even two body changes weren't enough to get rid of this. At this point, I didn't think I was traumatized anymore.
But more that not being able to see faces was a punishment for my actions.
"My liege… You have become a demon lord now…"
A sigh left me at his words.
"I have, I have, yes."
"And you're also much more expressive?"
"Am I? That I don't know. Whatever, coming back. There's two problems."
The two tilted their head.
And Bathym then started smacking his head.
"I will assist you even if it means giving up my life."
"Relax. Anyway, one, this authority I have received is grandly troublesome."
"Troublesome?" Titania floated in front of me.
I couldn't see her face, yet I could understand a state of exhaustion exuding from her. It almost felt like I didn't need my eyes to see.
I slowly raised my hand toward her to let her perch on it and rest, which she gladly did.
"I'll explain it," I said, stifling a yawn. "It's an ability that lets me seal my strength."
"Seal?" Bathym muttered…. "Does it mean, the fear others held of you was your strength, my lord?"
That didn't not make sense.
Everyone had been calling me a show off in recent days. My display of power had been so high that it ended up taking in a negative emotion from the witnesses.
But I knew better than to think that others controlled my Authority.
"It is something like that," I told Bathym, not willing to inform him about his mentor.
The information I had learnt from my future self.
The mysteries in eveythting had just increased. That there was a future self of my own inside my soul, who had already achieved the level of a demon, was a terrifying thought.
Did the past present and future exist at the same time for the soul?
That couldn't be it.
I was confused, but thinking about it right now was going to be annoying. The cryptic words at the end made it clear that I would get my answers soon.
If not my past, I could at least trust my future. I had learned that much from the experience.
"I can seal my abilities. And others' abilities too."
"Others' as well? And how do you open it?" Titania asked. She was worried since I had just used it on the spirits.
"It's alright. Only I can undo the seal. It's tough until I know the mechanics of the ability and am in direct contact. It's only the spirits around us that wouldn't be able to absorb souls anymore."
The spirits that I could see clearer that ever filled my sight.
All of them looked particularly angry at me, but I ignored them.
For now.
"Tests are needed to see the extent of this thing."
"It's an ability that makes your enemies weak, my liege…"
I shook my head.
"It's the opposite."
They hummed in question.
"The more power I seal and for the longer I seal it…" My fists clenched. "The more stronger they will be when I open it up."
"How strong… are we talking?"
"We will have to test it out. I think at least twice as strong? I do not know."
The operation of my authority was clear to me, but its extent not so much.
"What was the second issue, my liege?"
"Right. I am hungry as fuck."
***
Bathym woke up the two idiots and retuned with a bunch of game. A few bears and wolves along with rabbits and even some fish.
The place we were boarding in had been fucked over by the spirits, and the coppice was largely destroyed too. Thankfully, that meant more animals for us! Yay!
"Give me just a few minutes, my liege."
I felt an urge to eat, but not raw. It seemed that it was natural for demon lords, but not all demons.
Eating was more of an urge and not a necessity as well.
"All the food you eat can be turned into demonic energy for you, my liege. That is why many demon lords live a life of vanity."
Bathym spoke as he started mixing some condiments and killing the animals.
"Humans are a great source of demonic energy."
"I don't know man, I didn't like the taste."
"You must have eaten them raw. I make some real good human."
"I think I'll pass for now."
Bathym finished whipping up the food and placed it in front of me. I dived down on it while Titania went to dream land.
It wasn't enough, so I ate more.
In the end, till the sun rose back up, second had to run out and bring some game, glasses had to butcher it, and Bathym had to cook it up.
One of them didn't enjoy it as much as the rest.
Finally sated after downing a good mountain of meat, did I stand up and wipe my face.
"My liege, you look so serene now! The wild look on your body has disappeared and your eyes curve so gently! You're like a prince!"
"Enough, cunt."
"Oh! Occasional wildness is good!"
I stretched my hands above my head.
"Now then, let's conquer the east in the next 30 days!"
"Yes! As you wish my liege!"
"Sure—Wait WHAT?!"
"Dark Moon! Dark Moon!"
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