Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Determined to end him before he grew too powerful, she asserted her recovered courage with a thunderous step.

Her mana boiled in her body, ready to unleash hell on Adam. However, alarm bells reverberated in her mind as his enraged figure met her gaze.

Evaporating air rotated around a pillar of dark flames that charred the ceiling. The vortices she had ignored earlier... she shuddered. They seemed much deeper, much more chaotic... much more dangerous. But she had to kill him now that he was vulnerable, dispossessed of his intellect, and merely reacting to external stimuli.

"A single devastating strike. One that would leave him no space to dodge," she muttered, her lips twisting as she raised her palms. "I can't hesitate! The castle will crumble, but I can always build a new one later. Better! I'll claim Oikos' after conquering the realm."

Blinding lights engulfed her palms, spreading to form elven symbols as she spoke. In the blink of an eye, two magic circles lost to time and complex beyond reason hovered before them. Metal and darkness intertwined as she carefully made them draw near each other.

However, before she completed the fusion and through the sparks surrounding her, she raised her face as the red demon she had tied howled.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"She's calling for Odin's help! Strike before she channels his powers!"

She instantly snapped her head to Adam, an icy shiver running down her spine. And for a good reason: the wind sizzled nearby.

Eyes wide, she threw caution to the wind and slammed her palms to expedite the process. However, Adam was closing in too fast!

In fact, his speed was manageable. What wasn't was his reaction time and fluidity. Even Odin warned her repeatedly through Muninn about Adam's instincts and how they could reach Loki's level if left unchecked.

Her heart pounded as the sparks ignited violently, the fusion taking shape in her palms. Yet, Adam's feral roar shattered her focus as a streak of molten air slashed her cheek, leaving a burning sting as the wind wailed around his charging figure.

She bit her lips, letting out a frustrated scream as she shoved the incomplete magic circles forward, roared the spell's name, and cast her barrier in emergency.

"Reaper's Harvest!"

Blinding light swallowed the room as a blast tossed her like a ragdoll into the crumbling walls. Debris rained on her, and the roar of destruction drowned her yelp. But amidst the chaos, she pushed herself off the ground, teeth gritted to endure the pain.

Trepidation strangling her, she raised her face through the smoke clouds, praying that her weakened spell killed or at least wounded Adam enough to make him easy prey.

"Cough, cough."

Coughs accompanied by gurgling noises drew her attention as she turned. However, they multiplied a second later, making her understand that the elven council survived. But these fools didn't matter—only Adam did.

She slapped her palms, summoning her silver and dark whip as she staggered through the dust, her eyes darting in every direction.

Muninn observed like her. However, it spotted something, cawed, and flapped its wings urgently. Spinning on her heels, she swung without looking.

The whip split the dust, cleaving a cloud in half. In that second, a brown blur registered in her eyes before the dust engulfed it again. She trembled, terror gripping her heart—Adam survived.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" She gripped her forehead, silver locks of disheveled hair flowing between her trembling fingers. "I can't lose before I taste the fruits of my three-thousand-year plan."

She clenched her fists, cursing her alliance with Odin. Back in the crypt, she thought Muninn's invaluable help would be a golden opportunity to hasten her domination over this realm. But now? They had become the catalysts for Adam's fierce resistance. Without them, she could have manipulated him from the shadows over the years. She could have even killed him without effort in his normal state or even resorted to sneak attacks.

Her teeth cracked as she summoned the same magic circles again.

"Elden will revive today! Oh, Odin! Give me the strength to obliterate this demon!"

WHOOSH

A furious gale ruffled her hair as her shield cracked, forcing her breath to catch in her throat. Did he tear her in that fleeting moment like he did with Elaris? Her breath came out in labored gasps as her rapid heartbeats thundered in her ears. Yet, a second later, no pain assaulted her. No limbs dropped to the ground, either.

"What was that?" She muttered, taking deep breaths to recompose herself as she scanned the dust clouds impeding her vision.

But where she should have felt comfort, she felt horror as she gazed at her shoulder.

"N-No... Muninn?"

The raven had vanished like a dream, leaving her alone against this beast of a demon. She shuddered and tightened her fists, tears rolling down her cheeks at the injustice as she understood what had happened: Odin deemed her useless and gave up on her. After all, she was just a talented mortal among the billions living in the myriad realms. If she failed, someone would rise to take her place. She knew it, but still... it hurt.

However, she was far from the truth, and Muninn tried to warn her in horror dozens of meters behind her. Despite its effort, a firm hand gripped it by the beak as two chaotic vortices peered into its trembling eyes.

Dark feathers drifted amidst the chaos, and its talons shone as they struck the horrible monster holding it. Yet, Adam reacted faster than a cat and dodged the lethal strikes with subtle movements.

He could feel the divinity Muninn carried. He didn't know who he was, he didn't know why... he didn't even think. Yet, his instincts screamed that the raven was an enemy. As for Sylvie? He had never gazed at her at all.

Without wasting a second, he poured his dark flames onto the raven's frame, aiming to melt it—in vain. It was as if a divine blessing warded his essence off. And with his hand holding it, he couldn't use his sword. Therefore, he instinctively went with the second-best option.

His mouth opened wide, his sharp teeth glinting amidst the dust as he brought Muninn closer.

The raven struggled madly, terrified by what was happening. Yet, albeit divine, it was a spy with mind powers, not a fighter. And with nothing to erase or manipulate in Adam's mind, it was at his mercy.

No! It could still do something to save itself. Perhaps by returning Adam's memories, it could buy its life or even kill him with Sylvie's help. After all, he was much weaker before the erasure.

Acting on its idea, miniature golden runes glistened on its feathers as it infiltrated Adam's familiar mind and began the restoration processes.

However, a split second later, a sharp pain assaulted its body as razor-like teeth sank into its neck.

It tried to caw, to peck through the bastard's teeth. Yet, they were draconic and wouldn't break!

As Muninn despaired, the taste of blood and raw meat filled Adam's mouth as he ignored his wounded tongue and inner cheeks. Instead, he chewed faster, his heart drumming at the feeling of devouring a divine bastard.